My one worry about Frankel’s run at York, on Wednesday, 22nd August 2012,  concerned the journey from the racecourse stables on the far side of the back straight to the racecourse proper. Normally, runners are led across, between races, and this can be a period when a high-strung horse can get upset.  I thought that perhaps Frankel would be loaded into a horsebox and driven round from one side to the other.

I needn’t have worried. When I turned on my television about an hour before his race, there he was, walking across, led by his “lad” and accompanied by another member of the Cecil team, probably the travelling head lad. He was also being stalked by the strident Emma Spenser armed with a microphone. She wanted to know if Frankel’s lad was feeling emotional.

Suffice it to say that Frankel was as cool as a cucumber and thoroughly unconcerned, and his lad was very courteous in his response to Mrs Spencer’s small talk. That was quite the worst possible place for Channel 4 to provide a reception party for any horse, but I have no doubt that they would cite the Freedom of Information Act, or possibly the Right to Roam. While I am on the subject, the practice of TV presenters interviewing trainers as  they are saddling their horses is one that should be stopped, and I am surprised that stewards and trainers don’t explain this in no uncertain terms to the usual suspects.

All that I can say about the Juddmonte is that anyone who saw the race will treasure the memory because, unless I am completely demented, life on terra firma does not get any better. And that’s that.

Except for one more thing. I spent a little time on the formbook, with the help of the Racing Post, for which many thanks, Racing Post. Through Farrh (2^nd) and St Nicholas Abbey (3^rd) I very quickly worked my way to that nice German horse Danedream which won our King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July and France’s Arc de Triomphe last October. Consequently it is not unreasonable to suggest that the best middle-distance form was either on show or well represented in the Juddmonte and Frankel’s superiority was almost unbelievable.

Certain parties began talking about the Arc de Triomphe as a possible target for Frankel. I am of too nervous a disposition to welcome such a prospect. The mile-and-a-half course at Longchamp is a minefield in certain circumstances. It is very flat, features two long bends, plus a short straight. For reasons which I am not qualified to explain, if the field is a large one (as is often the case for the Arc) the contest becomes an obstacle race. Who needs that?

Copyright Andrew Simpson.    24^th August 2012