AP McCoy tells The Captain that he is getting some pretty colourful advice from friends and colleagues about potential plots for his debut crime novel which will be published in November.
This week it emerged that the book will be titled ‘Taking The Fall’ and centre around Duncan Claymore, a conditional jockey on the way up whose talent is apparently matched by his inability to keep his mouth shut.
Whether the 17-time champion jump jockey has based the character on any of his colleagues will no doubt be long debated in the weighing room.
McCoy said: ‘It gives you something different to think about. It is quite interesting trying to come up with different plots and can be the topic of conversation when we go out with friends.
‘It’s bringing out the disturbed side of some of my colleagues and friends more than I thought.
‘I am not sure I can put my name to some of their ideas. There have been a some of them which would make Fifty Shades of Grey look fairly tame – not that I’ve ever read that.’
Of course not, AP.
.............................................................................................................Champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins is another with his focus firmly on next week’s big Cheltenham Festival prizes but results of a recent preview night quiz suggest his identification skills do not match up to his training prowess.
The contest included a round where teams had to identify well known racing personalities who had been disguised using photoshop with false beards, wigs and sunglasses.
Guess who: Trainer Willie Mullins (centre) failed to recognise himself in a photoThe Mullins team were in contention to win the bash staged in aid of Irish Horse Welfare in Naas but dropped vital points with one tricky image …. Mullins himself!
Maybe, he was stumped by the fact he was not wearing his trademark trilby in the picture, snapped last summer in Cork by photographer Pat Healy.
‘I did think I’ve got a jacket like that,’ joked Mullins.
.............................................................................................................Channel 4’s under-fire new racing coverage will come under more scrutiny at next week’s Festival as it will with its debut Grand National coverage next month.
How well it promotes the big Aintree race will also draw plenty of attention with viewing figures bound to fall compared to the BBC.
Jumping over: The Grand National, won last year by the grey Neptune Collonges, will be on Channel 4However, some fairly flashy promotional material is promised after scenes were filmed in Liverpool this week with equine stunt team The Devil’s Horsemen racing through streets around Everton Park and jumping through back gardens, allotments; over cars and picnic benches.
The trailer is being produced by the same team which created C4’s highly praised Meet the Superhumans Paralympics campaign.
.............................................................................................................ARC, the owners of all-weather tracks Lingfield and Wolverhampton have pledged to donate £250 to Red Nose Day for every horse which wears a red noseband (provided at the track) at next Friday’s meetings.
ARC spokeswoman Kate Hills said there would be no limit on the donation, so come on owners and trainers.
If there are 70 runners at each meeting, there is potentially £35,000 up for grabs.
It’s for charity, don’t forget.
.............................................................................................................Charismatic chef Tom Kerridge, a familiar face on The Captain’s favourite Great British Menu – watched for research purposes, obviously – will be producing some of his signature dishes at Royal Ascot this summer.
Among his culinary delights on offer in the Panoramic Restaurant will be poached lobster and late season English asparagus salad with summer truffle dressing, treacle cured beef fillet with braised shin, courgette flower and clotted cream pomme purée and tonka bean pannacotta.
The dishes are part of a luxury day-out package priced at £880 per head.
For those of more modest means The Captain can happily supply his signature sandwich of finest Brazilian corned beef, drizzled in Branston jus, at a more modest price.
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