Harry's Stable Whispers

IT'S the end of the road for Swan At Whalley as he is again in trouble with the Jockey Club after refusing to go into the stalls at Hamilton last week.

So I have have now retired him and he will be off to the Racing School for Apprentices next week where he will start a second career.

It's only at the races Swannie plays up. At home he is a super horse and everyone loves him.

Gerry Scott, the ex-jockey and now starter, gave Swannie several chances and longer than most starters would have given him.

Two horses broke out of the stalls while they were trying to get Swannie in. Kim Tinkler was not hurt, but Iona Wands - who has ridden Swannie twice this season - was badly shaken up and hurt her wrist. Her boyfriend Paul Fessey, who was riding out for Kevin Ryan, informed me she is okay now though.

Ribble Assembly was schooled over hurdles on Sunday by National Hunt jockey Derrick Byrne, who was very impressed with him. He's been so disappointing since he won easily at Hamilton first time out this season and we think trying him over hurdles will get his concentration back.

Saffizz came out of his race very well last week and did extremely well as he was only 80 per cent fit after his operation. So everything is on target for the biggest race I have ever entered a horse in the £200,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes.

Kevin Ryan has three horses entered in this race with Uncle Exact and Jacques Reply - both owned by the Good Hand syndicate operating from Uncle Jack's pub in Blackburn.

Last week I said Les Eyre's horses were in good form and he has had 20-1, 14-1 and 7-2 winners since. I also said carry on following Dandy Nicholls whose Royal Result won the big sprint on Saturday at 14-1. Godolphin horses have also been winning lots of races. Tomorrow at York, Mark Johnston's Atlantic Rhapsody will be hard to beat with the champion jockey Kieren Fallon up. Kieren should follow up on Dark Trojan in the following race as well. At York on Thursday a horse I have always followed perhaps because its called Chelsea Barracks where I served when in the Army, is worth a bet as this filly is in great form.

On Friday the champion jockey is riding Princely Dreams for my friend Richard Fahey and this should be a winning partnership. On Saturday I would like to see Jack Berry take the Group One with Rosselli, which could be a good each-way bet.

Have a good week

TIPS FOR THE WEEK:

Wednesday (York) - Dark Trojan

Thursday (York) - Chelsea Barracks (Nap)

Friday (Haydock) - Princely Dream (Nap)

Saturday (Haydock) - Rosselli (EW)

Saturday (Haydock) - Sutton Common (EW)

Saturday (Haydock) - Nigrasine (Nap)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.