Genes, it seems, can survive a period of hell-raising.
‘I know that name. What else has he got?’ I heard a racegoer inquire of his companion at Kempton on Saturday, after Mark Rimell had trained Crossbow Creek to win the big race of the day, the Totesport Lanzarote Hurdle. The answer is: ‘For the moment, not very much.’ Mark Rimell has only one other older horse in his yard of 13 mostly untried youngsters. But that other horse is Oneway, with whom he had the previous Saturday captured the biggest race on the Sandown card, the Ladbrokescasino.com Handicap Chase, the chaser completing a four-timer in the process. The 34-year-old trainer certainly bears a name which racing folk will recognise, his grandfather Fred having numbered among his victories four winners of the Grand National (ESB, Nicolaus Silver, Gay Trip and Rag Trade) and a couple of the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Woodland Venture and Royal Frolic), with his wife Mercy later taking on the licence.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in