the-racehorse.com - Carnaby’s View

Modest hope more than justified

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:00:57 +0000

Cheltenham is here and with it the best time of year, says Ian Carnaby, who marks the passing of Sue Lamyman, who trained Modest Hope, the winner of the Carnaby seller at Brighton in 1998.

Home thoughts from abroad

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:10:13 +0000

Travelling to Canada, Ian Carnaby was spared a double dose of pain when Southampton and Ronaldo Des Mottes got beaten. He is now wondering from afar whether he has found his Cheltenham banker.

Ronaldo all set to score?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:24:44 +0000

A modest handicap hurdle at Wincanton franked the form of a David Pipe runner in Saturday's Totesport Trophy. Ian Carnaby looks back at a race dominated in its early years by Captain Ryan Price.

Big freezes I have known

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:26:45 +0000

The big freeze has its lighter moments, says Ian Carnaby, with Milton Bradley's Brazilian Brush cheering one of his friends, and the the temptation to risk a grand on racing at the previously unheard of Neuss.

Le Beau Bai for another perfect Christmas

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:23:57 +0000

Christmas has been kind to Ian Carnaby down the years. Our columnist reflects on the tetchy genius David Elsworth, and recommends a recent wide margin winner to keep the seasonal run going at Chepstow.

The Lady Vanishes

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:58:45 +0000

It is time for racing to find its lost admirers, says Ian Carnaby. The BBC's approach is perfectly understandable, and it's time to realise the sport can't reach a wider audience as a magnificent spectacle alone.

In the Pink with plenty of bottle

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:48:01 +0000

As well as misty early evenings, November gives us some of Ian Carnaby's favourite races in the November Handicap, the Mackeson Gold Cup - as it used to be - and the Hennessy Gold Cup - as it fortunately still is.

What's in a name? Quite a lot actually

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:37:08 +0100

Has Lady Bamford been listening to Leonard Cohen? Ian Carnaby speculates on the naming of her filly Thousandkissesdeep, and looks at some more of the well-named runners that he tends to favour.

Value is hard to find in the Bois

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:56:12 +0100

It was hard to find any sort of value at Longchamp on Sunday says Ian Carnaby - but that said, it was a day where the spectacle mattered much more than the betting.

Sea The Stars is dreadful value in the Arc

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:23:03 +0100

Sea The Stars is rank bad value for the Arc, warns Ian Carnaby. When John Oxx, who has trained the colt to perfection, weighs up all the risks we may well find the Champion heads to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Best to ignore all excuses

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:56:33 +0100

Reviewing the Sprint Cup, Ian Carnaby wonders if the Group One Sprinters are a humdrum bunch - and cautions that logic should trump the rash of excuses we've been hearing lately.

Slowing down in East Gilling

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:37:30 +0100

In Yorkshire for the Ebor meeting, Ian Carnaby is in clover at the Fairfax Arms. Clues presented at Goodwood have given our correspondent something of a purple patch in his beloved sprint handicaps lately...

Fine and Dandy - let's back them all!

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:44:03 +0100

It's time to acknowledge that Dandy Nicholls is a genius at training sprinters, but, says Ian Carnaby, sorting out his best runner in the Ayr Gold Cup will be a problem - should we just back the lot?

Digital does the great man proud

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:10:27 +0100

Digital ran for the 143rd time on Saturday. The veteran is trained by Mick Channon and owned by former trainer Bill Wightman - who saddled Mick's first winner as an owner. Ian Carnaby pays tribute.

Slightly out of tune perhaps

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:00:55 +0100

Ian Carnaby finds himself at odds with overblown assessments of Sea The Stars' Eclipse win - and Roger Federer's drawn-out victory at Wimbledon. Is our columnist slightly ‘desafinado’?