Over the stable door: Fingers crossed for a first win for the Queen at the Derby today

AS the sun sets on another point to point season we turn our attention to summer racing and next season’s youngsters.

Two of my winners from this year are for sale as the owners plan to replace them with younger models and hopefully I will be able to find suitable homes.

They are both genuine, bold and well-behaved out hunting, so I shouldn’t have any problem.

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Difficult to comprehend that winning pointers are usually worth more on the hunting field than the racecourse, but it is a reality.

The northern circuit wound to an end with the Border meeting last Sunday. A Yorkshire horse who has more than earned his keep in the past four season is Jacqueline Coward’s Narcisco.

He won the ladies race, making it his fifth win on the track and bringing his record to 16 wins and 12 placings from 30 starts between the flags.

The German-bred 11-year-old is part-owned by the Coward’s next door neighbours in their North Yorkshire village of Scackleton – Bill Thomas and Teresa Corsuk who both work in London.

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Narcisco’s siblings may have run in top Group races throughout Europe but his sole hurdle win came at Wetherby in 2005 before he suffered a tendon injury and was given to Jacqueline by her grandfather Mick Easterby.

“Narcisco’s nickname is ‘the ginger gerbil’ at home due to his short legs,” says Jacqui. “He is the stable favourite and will run again in 2012 all being well.”

Winged Farasi nearly had the Smash Block partnership tearing up their betting slips half way round when running in the Conditional jockeys three hurdle mile race at Cartmel on Monday.

He was tailed off with four still to jump and made up 50 lengths on his rivals to virtually catch the second horse on the line, having flown up the run like a sprinter once the jockey picked his stick up turning for home.

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That is one horse who will be out of a job if they ever ban the whip.

The 10-1 each way price rewarded his followers. My father, Peter doubled his money so drinks were courtesy of the winnings. It stretched to a cup of tea in the owners’ tent.

The horse certainly managed to see out the extended trip well, having never run over the distance before. It makes him the ideal syndicate horse – fun, competitive and incredibly versatile. His only quirk being a bad pair of pins and a slightly warped view on jockeys – not many prefer women.

I am keen to get back on board next time he runs. I admit it is a struggle watching on the sidelines, neither my nerves nor my voice can bear it too often (those who were standing close to me would readily agree).

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Cartmel is popular with my owners, plenty make it their annual pilgrimage regardless of runners. I am usually organised with plenty of Pimm’s to offer, while mum provides a selection of homemade cooking which never fails to tempt them. A job I had anticipated making all the easier after I convinced Gareth, owner of the local delicatessen to join the Smash Block partnership. Gareth didn’t disappoint. He arrived with some sweet delights from the shop window, picked off well before racing got under way.

It’s Derby day once again and the union jacks will be flying high at Epsom today if Carlton House, the Queen’s horse, can give her a first success in the Derby. Her great grandfather, King Edward VII remains the last monarch to have lifted the crown 102 years ago with Persimmon.

Sheikh Mohammed gave Carlton House to the Queen. She refused to take any money from him when he purchased her horse, Highland Glen, so the Sheikh returned the favour.

Surprisingly Sheik Mohammed’s distinctive Godolphin colours have yet to honour the Derby winners rostrum. Quite a fairy tale ending if Her Majesty wins with her gift horse.

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