Monty’s Award Blog – May 2023
Went to Plumpton in the rain. It sounds like it is a folk song, but it is actually something that I did. If I am going to be honest, it was a more pleasant day out than I was expecting, but the pressure was on. All the time that I was looking to hold on against Brown Bullet for the Shovelstrode Number One horse title, yet the weather meant that Gold Clermont was actually the one I should have had a wary eye upon. And her race was after mine, so if she won there would be absolutely nothing that I could do about it.
{You could have won your race and solved the problem – Ed.}
That is not a very helpful attitude. Anyway, Flemen’s Tipple made the running at a sensible pace and with half a lap to go, any result was possible. Then came the drama and suspense… It did look as if the eventual winner Tip Top Mountain was going comfortably the best, but Gold Clermont kept nagging away at him and for a while I was very worried. She finished second, which makes us tied for wins. And tied for seconds, but I get the tie breaker on third places 3-2. So hooray for me. Tip Top Mountain has joined my Christmas card list, but I am undecided about Philip Armson. He was on board both of us on the day, and he should have warned me that he was expecting to win half an hour later. On the other hand, he did not make me work harder than I needed to (with hindsight), and that is something I endorse without reservation.
{This is not really being a team player – Ed.}
Other than a horse and the jockey, it is not a team sport. Below is a picture of me receiving the trophy.
I’ll not lie, I was hoping for something grander – the picture does tell the story. They tried to tell me that it was a valuable antique, and is a greater treasure than it looks, but my suspicion is that Mr Jack buried the real one in a field somewhere around here so that nobody else could have it – that would be totally in character for him. When I have a spare moment I will get Hesbehindyou to have a bit of an excavate around the place for it, as he has been in need of a new project now that we have completed the hole in the field by the road. At least that is one obvious location we can rule out searching for the lost trophy.
Anyhoo, I went back to Plumpton as soon as possible, and in mid-May it was absolutely bright and sunny, as it should be. Plenty of people were there to admire me, which is the main purpose of the exercise after all, although they were not up to speed on their carrot bringing obligations. I did not win and had a severe disagreement with Niall at the final hurdle as we worked hard for a place. Really! Were it not for the scenario described last month I would not have been taking any notice of him at all by this time, but he has earned the benefit of the doubt. The other horses will attest that I do not give that out lightly. It has been suggested my next race might be at Fontwell in June, with a 9.00pm post-time. Not interested, thanks, as not only will I miss Pointless, I would be back late for supper and early evening is when the other horses get up to mischief if I am not there to supervise them.
This month’s question comes from a Mr Digger, of East Grinstead. The email may have been a fake as it was not full of spelling mistakes, and digressions, but let me assume that it is genuine. He asks what my favourite other animal is. That is a tough one. In my youth I did wonder if I could avoid racing by being some form of fish, but a steady diet of plankton or seaweed does not hold a great deal of attraction for me. Perhaps an octopus would be a good option, as nobody tells them what to do. But on balance, I think that buzzards operate at the sort of pace that gets my approval. What I do not want to be is a spotted dog.
See you somewhere in June!