(Updated: 13.December.07)

D-Day, Friday 7 December 2007, Risky lines up in a valuable 4m handicap chase at right-handed Exeter. Everything is in his favour – marathon trip, heavy going, recent run, right-handed track (though I’m not saying he doesn’t act left-handed). I’ve been back over his form and his two right-handed runs last season stand out – fourth at Hereford (winner, second and third won next time) and fourth at Taunton (winner, Trigger The Light, won over fences at Kempton recently and the runner-up, Ornais, won a Grade 2 contest on his chase debut). I’ve spoken to his trainer, Nick Williams, twice in the past few days and his confidence is obvious. I had originally planned to head to Exeter via Thursday’s Wincanton meeting but a heavy cold and heavy workload put paid to that idea. Train on day of the race it was, though I should have learned how to set the alarm properly on my new mobile phone (I didn’t know you had to press ‘save’ every time you changed it!). Woke up at 7.10am,a disadvantage when the plan is to catch the 6.55am from Rugby and wouldn’t you know it my Tardis is in the garage. The last train I can catch is the 8.20am – made it – just need the train to arrive in Birmingham at the forecast 9.05 which gives me five minutes to get the 9.10 to Exeter. No chance. Train gets in at 9.10 precisely, not that it matters as someone’s farted near a signal box in Aberdeen and the whole train network is in turmoil. The world’s most annoying station announcer is rattling off delays and platform changes every six seconds. Will the 9.10 actually turn up before the 9.40? It’s evens each of two. Train arrives, seat found in the quiet carriage – excellent – mobile won’t work anyway (40 years ago we put a man on the moon now we can’t make a phone function on a train for longer than it takes to say “I’m on the train, so the signal might go at any min……..beeeeeeeep!” – that’s progress for you). Adopt the ‘I’ve got my seat so screw attitude’, so loved by British commuters, by dumping coat/laptop on spare seat and parking myself in the aisle seat – doesn’t look like the train’s that busy anyway. Hang on, what’s this? Invasion! Within seconds the carriage is full of foreign exchange students – a slice of revolutionary France squares up to Richard Branson – apparently there’s no word for “quite carriage” in France. Opportunist talking-too-loudly business woman who had been talking crap to a junior colleague in vain attempt to impress her for the last half hour took this as an opportunity to use her mobile for the remainder of the journey. So much for my quiet form-study period.

Exeter’s not very big but the traffic is London-like and after shelling out £20 for a cab to the station I got to the track just in time to see the runners pass the line after the first race – shame as I wanted to back runner-up Los Suenos (trained by Nick Williams) each-way – never mind. Two losers later and it’s on to Risky’s race – we’ve had a touch – only seven runners, some of who won’t go on the ground or stay the trip, and a £20,000 prize fund (£13,000 to the winner). “Don’t worry about winning too far, just win” I said to jockey David Dennis as he went to “get mounted”. One or two laughs from my fellow syndicate members but I wasn’t joking – I’d had a few quid on you see, though sadly not at the 25-1 forecast in the racecard, Risky was a 4-1 shot. Risky is a thorough stayer, if they had six-mile chases he’d be a champion, so when I saw him lobbing along just a couple of lengths behind the leaders rounding the home turn I knew he’d won (barring jumping errors). He fenced perfectly in the straight and came home 17 lengths clear – job done. The sun, which emerged for a brief spell shortly before the race, is replaced by grey clouds and drizzle so why am I standing in the winners’ enclosure holding a rug. Aaaah, now I remember! The race is sponsored by Axminster Carpets (maybe I’ll get to keep the ‘trophy’ for a few weeks in June). Why couldn’t it be sponsored by Acme Umbrellas? Went to collect a few quid from the Jack Bevan firm “here he comes, never backs a loser with us” chipped in the floorman – “at least I took under the odds” I replied (7-2). Went to find my fellow syndicate members for a well-earned drink, assumed they’d be in the Owners and Trainers bar – wrong. Checked my body odour situation – deodorant still holding out, so where could they be. Got myself a pint of Grolsch, best I’ve ever tasted outside of Holland, and did a quick mental calculation of how much I’d won (aye, aye!). Turned out the rest of ‘em had been invited to the sponsor’s box while I was collecting my ill-gotten gains.

My new acquisition, Quasar D’Oudairies, also trained by Nick, performed with credit in the final race, a competitive junior bumper, and is something else to look forward to. Journey home less traumatic and I was still on a high when I made a late decision to head to Sandown for the Tingle Creek on Saturday. It’s likely that Risky will be aimed at the Eider Chase in February, a race Nick won with Philson Run a couple of years ago. What time’s the train to Newcastle?

(Updated: 08.November.07)

Risky made his reappearance under topweight in a 3m handicap chase at Chepstow on Wednesday 7 November, finishing a well beaten last of the eight runners. However, this was most encouraging, as the ground was too quick, the trip too sharp and this was his first run over fences since pulling up at Newton Abbot over a year ago. He needs to learn to be quicker away from his fences (it's not just enough to jump them old boy!) but it was a step in the right direction all the same.

(Updated 17.October.07)

Risky has recovered from a bout of ringworm and is due to go novice chasing this season.

(Updated 18.June.07)

"Risky" ran fourth (of seven) at Taunton on 20 February, beaten by around 15 lengths. The race was pretty decent for a Taunton novice hurdle, with the winner and runner-up competing in Pattern company on their next starts. The abandonment of Worcester in late March and then unsuitably fast ground prevented us from running him again and he's now enjoying his summer holiday (still no postcard!). All being well, he'll return in the autumn for a novice chase campaign. I'm guessing that he'll prove best right-handed on soft/heavy going, so we may have to give the Royal & SunAlliance Chase a miss!

(Updated 16.Feb.07)

It’s been a busy time for The Risky Viking since I last updated this section – he ran second at Fontwell on 25 January, finishing less than two lengths behind Schuh Shine, who had won his previous two races. Risky was not entirely at home on the tight left-handed Fontwell circuit, reportedly changing his legs on the bends and getting outpaced before staying on late. I was slightly disappointed that his jockey didn’t plot a wider course throughout, as that seems the key to winning at Fontwell on soft/heavy going these days, as the inside tends to ride slower. Perhaps I expected too much.

It looked as though he’d had a hard race but trainer Nick Williams was surprised at how well he had come out of the Fontwell contest so opted to run him again at Stratford nine days later. The tight track and drop to 2m6.5f were not ideal (the Fontwell race was over a near 3m4f trip) but staying maiden hurdles are thin on the ground so we took our chance. I’d had only a small each-way bet at Fontwell but decided to have a proper wager today after seeing the other 9-4 joint-favourite, Leo McGarry, in the paddock – he looked something of a lunatic and I felt that he may not see out the trip – I even laid him for a place. Risky ran second….to Leo McGarry. I’ve since had the volume turned up on the voices in my head – the ones that said “the trip’s too short, the track’s not suitable and the drying ground won’t help either!” Still, more prize money and an enjoyable day out thanks to winners in the shape of Tanners Court (15-2), Rio De Janeiro (7-2 from 5-1) and Garryvoe (11-2).

Risky has come an awful long way since that Newton Abbot effort last August, picking up about £2,700 in prize money for finishing second, second, fourth and second. He’s entered at Taunton next Tuesday (20 February) but once again, the sharp track may not be ideal, and it’s a case of limited opportunities and the need to find a race for him before the ground dries out.

Nick’s other horses are flying with The Real Deal looking just that after scoring at Fontwell recently. He’s in at Ascot tomorrow (Saturday 17 February) where he should go well under A P McCoy. Nick’s Grand National entry Philson Run heads to Haydock for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup. It’s his reappearance but he can go well fresh so I’ve had a tiny each-way interest antepost at 28-1.

I’ve finally got round to adding a photo of Risky – he’s in the yellow colours in the centre of the picture.

(Updated 23.Jan.07)

Risky’s intended outing at Chepstow was called off because of a waterlogged track and he now heads to Fontwell on Thursday (25 January). Bit of a gutter, as the Chepstow race, a maiden hurdle, looked far easier than the Fontwell event where he is due to face previous winners, including Joacci, who beat him at Hereford last time.

(Updated 11.Jan.07)

Risky ran in a 3m2f novices' hurdle at Hereford (22 December) where he looked to have solid each-way claims. An overnight mover on Betfair (18-1 into 7-1), he drifted out to 9-1 on-course before finishing fourth to Joacci, beaten by four lengths in total. His jockey, Wayne Hutchinson, felt that a mistake at the last flight cost him second place and that a more galloping circuit would suit. He’s off to Chepstow, weather permitting, for a maiden hurdle on Friday 19 January.

(Updated 15.Dec.06)

"Risky" is entered for a 3m2f novices' hurdle at Hereford on Friday 22 December. I've no idea how strong the opposition will be but he has reportedly improved for his run at Uttoxeter and hopes are high that he can pick up some more prize money. Win, lose or draw it's another excuse for a Christmas piss up.

(updated 29 November)

THE RISKY VIKING (IRE)
7yo b g (Nick Williams)

Nick Williams, hitherto known as ‘the genius of South Molton’ has entered Risky for a three-mile novices’ hurdle at Uttoxeter. We’ve had a bit of a touch, as the race has been split into two divisions, so we’re only facing nine rivals. Have a quick look at the race for my tipping service and go for The Painkiller. Try to back him overnight at the forecast 11-4 but price collapses into 2-1. Risky is forecast at 12s but should be that to get round if he runs like he did at Newton Abbot, where he jumped abysmally in a novices’ chase, albeit a valuable one won by Yes Sir who is only around 33-1 antepost for the King George VI Chase.

Meet up with fellow syndicate members prior to the race – haven’t met many of them before but they turn out to be a thoroughly likeable bunch – all possessed with sense of humour and realism – important assets when it comes to racehorse ownership. Jockey Daryl Jacob is doing the steering. He is very impressive pre-race – taking time to chat with us and displaying a thorough knowledge of Risky’s form (or lack of it). The going is desperate and with the first novice hurdles having gone to 20-1 and 50-1 stoutly bred types I decide to have a small bet, a £1000/£50 each-way with Ladbrokes on the rails – just in case.

Interestingly, there were only four horses in the first race who had contested bumpers – they finished first (20-1), second (5-2) fifth (28-1), and fell (100-1). The ex-Flat racer who went off as 4-7 favourite didn’t cope with the bottomless going and only ran third.

Risky jumps well in the main, tracks the leaders, and is clear with The Painkiller (7-4 second favourite) from some way out. Having suggested that Risky had little chance and not had much on, I’m in two minds whether to cheer or not when, for a breath, he looks to be catching the leader. “Go on Daryl” I shout whilst wishing I’d had twenty monkeys each-way. The Painkiller is always holding him and Daryl Jacob isn’t hard on Risky when he knows their chance is gone. It’s a massive 64 lengths back to the third and the time of the race is faster than the other division and compares favourably with the handicap hurdle later on the card.

Post race, the jockey suggests we stick to hurdles for this season at least, as he has some filling out to do. Smiles all round and a group photo in the ‘second place’ enclosure. It feels like we’ve won the Champion Hurdle. Our prize money cut is £562 which is about a score after expenses – we head off to the owners/trainers bar to drink it – happy days! Quick tip – don’t pat muddy/sweaty horses if you intend to shake hands with people in the immediate future.

(updated 9.Oct.2006)

THE RISKY VIKING (IRE)
7yo b g (Nick Williams)

I have recently made my first foray into racehorse ownership by purchasing a share in the above named beast. It was a shrewd investment and had absolutely nothing to do with me drinking too much wine at the trainers’ open day/50th Birthday bash.

 “Risky” and I have much in common – we are both described as “good eaters”.. Related to Viking Flagship, of whom I have fond memories, he was originally purchased by Graham Roach (owner of Viking Flagship) and sent to trainer Paul Nicholls. However, he was regarded as too immature (a.k.a. slow) to race for Nicholls and ended up in an Irish point-to-point at Ballynoe (2 April 2006) in which he was sent off as the 5-4 favourite before finishing second (beaten by two and a half lengths). The winner of that race, Andiamo, went on to win two Points before finishing third in a handicap chase at Tralee.

“Risky” made his debut for Nick Williams (genius) at Newton Abbot on 21 August 2006 when contesting the class 3 totesport.com novices’ chase, a valuable race worth over £10,000 to the winner. We knew he was flying too high but with only seven runners and prize money down to sixth place, it looked worth a shot. “Risky” raced in third place on the first circuit but jumped poorly and was knackered/tailed off when pulled up three out. 

It has since transpired that “Risky” has not been using his near foreleg properly (or the other three on the evidence of his first run!) so is having treatment to sort out this “minor problem”. He is expected to have his second outing at the end of October/early November.

I am still hopeful of victory in the 2009 Gold Cup.