ITV presenter Matt Chapman’s Good, Bad and Ugly from this week’s world of horse racing
Don't miss Chappers' latest column as he reflects on a big week of racing
THE start of a new week and a busy one for me as I'm off to Plumpton, Hexham and Haydock over the next seven days. I've never been to Hexham, and while it's a six hour drive I can't wait.
That's all ahead of me, but now it's time to look back in my latest Sun Racing Good, Bad and Ugly column.
GOOD
I was absolutely sure Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah, would announce Enable was staying in training at the Cartier Awards last week. So when he said nothing I was surprised.
As the good Lord sat down after making a speech I said to him: "Enable staying in training Lord Grimthorpe?" He replied: "Enjoying your dinner?"
And yesterday's announcement came as absolutely no surprise. I had stated such in my Saturday Sun Column, with the simple truth that her owner is getting no younger and life at stud is very different to a colt than filly from the point of view of production.
Enable made history by becoming the first British-trained filly to win the Arc as a four-year-old, and next season she will be back for more. Everyone in the sport should rejoice.
Everyone, that is, apart from William Haggas, who has probably just punched a wall somewhere knowing his star Arc runner-up Sea of Class has to tackle Enable once again.
Seriously well done to all concerned. Racing is the winner. Maybe Winx will take her on at Royal Ascot? Come on Aussies, come and get her if you are so amazing! Challenge on.
Eight million horses and countless mules and donkeys died in World War1. Staggering.
It's easy to moan in racing, but with that fact in mind Cheltenham put on some display yesterday as armed forces were remembered in various terrific ways.
A racetrack is the perfect place for these kind of events, as horses have always played such an important part in war.
Some think that racing should just stick to racing, but in particular the aerial combat display was magnificent with a sensational staged dogfight.
All in all it was great stuff for the crowd, and a real joy to honour the equine and, obviously, human heroes and heroines.
Ironically, Nietzsche won the big Greatwood Hurdle for the brilliant Brian Ellison and the human Nietzsche's sister attempted to associate his work with Nazism. That, though, is another story!
BAD
The whip. This is the problem. It's crass in the extreme to tell people the whip doesn't hurt horses and equally tell jockeys eight strikes are fine and nine or ten strikes will result in a ban.
Rules with no logic are ridiculous. No wonder they don't work, even if those in power will cry offences are far less than ten years ago.
If the whip doesn't hurt a horse - why restrict the number?
Public perception is the cry. Education the only answer.
HOTPOTS & HOWLERS Don't miss the Sun Racing weekly review with some strong views on the likes of Nicky Henderson & Adrian Heskin
UGLY
As you might imagine, I get plenty of abuse on social media. It's part of the modern world and most of the time I just laugh at it.
It's not just presenters either, almost everyone in racing is a target. Where money is involved...
Kim Bailey's blog is always worth a read, and he recently posted an email he was sent from a John Mealy.
It said: "What the f*** do you know about normal working class people you horrible Tory s***. You snivel to priviledge whilst your political rulers sell off huge swathes of our precious NHS to Branson and US buyers.
"You conned the a**** off punters with Clarcam last year. Your s***** site asking for money in order to receive duff information in respect of your runners isn't worth two bob. Stick the stale jokes up your a*** you clown."
At least if you are going to send drivel spell correctly (privilege) and get your horses right. Charbel? Or Gordon Elliott's Clarcam? Yeeehaaa!