Juliette's Weekly Frolic
Of all the notable people thronging the floorspace at a Spectator party last week, only Sir Stanley Raymond could claim any connection with the Turf, and he is still something of an unknown quantity in racing circles. The industry is not renown for welcoming a layman 'with open arms and the prospect of being thrust into the midst of so much tradition and privilege might daunt many men; but not the Levy Board's new Chairman. Though discarding the warring tactics of Lord Wigg, Sir Stanley is not one to be wooed by wealth and titles. He likes his own way and is accustomed to getting it. The new Lord of the Levy has been sharply criticised for knowing next to nothing about the Turf, but it doesn't need a breeding expert to realise the disturbing state of racecourse attendance figures which are his number one worry. It's true that at last month's meet the press' gathering at Kempton, Sir Stanley made encouraging noises on this subject, but the Brigadier Gerard fan club had apparently thrown a misleadingly rosy glow over the figures. Still, if it's national idols that'lure the public out of the betting shops, and back tp the racecourse, he should have no complaints about the 'gate ' at Cheltenham this Saturday, when King Bula and the current Young Pretender, Comedy of Errors, stage the first of three scheduled duels in the 'Trial Hurdle.' Should enough optimists have the temerity to take this illustrious duo on, even the most guarded gambler might be tempted to risk a little on the forecast. Horses to follow scored an overdue success last Thursday when The Chisler came home at all of 4-7 — a pity the Kempton selections couldn't have kept up the good workjwt, ever optimistic, this could be my weekend and the £8,000-added Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, the race to prove it. Here, last year's narrow loser, The Dikler, joStles for favouritism with Fred Winter's pair, Soloning and Sonny Somers, but the .best value comes from Bishop Auckland in the shape of Denys Smith's charge, That's Life. As the 33-1 outsider of seven in the Wills' Final he came near to upsetting the odds laid. on Irishman, Colebridge, and is now talked of as a 'National' prospect. Who knows how much he's improved? The first running of the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle Trial earlier that afternoon has far too many runners for my liking, but Jolly Lolly is worth a small touch. He. was unlucky to be beaten four lengths by probable favourite, Padlocked at Ascot and could reverse the placines.
Soft-ground specialist Ashville for the Tony Teacher Chase (Cheltenham, Friday) and the Hennessy fourth, Prairie Dog, to beat Cloudsmere in the Eridge Chase (Lingfield, Friday) should be enough cast-iron certainties for one week.
Assets: £103.50. Outlay: £3 to win That's Life, £2 to win Prairie Dog and Ashville, £1 ew Jolly Lolly. Six to follow, assets: £15.56.
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