DAVID CARR

Weblog:  What do you mean the WiFi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter

The trainer - and blogger - with a fascinating tale

You may not believe it but there are occasions in this job when you have to make bricks out of straw. Use all your creative powers to make the most out of limited material.

When you go to a race meeting where nothing happens or you interview someone who has nothing to say.

When the most truthful introduction to your piece would probably be: "Nothing interesting to read here, I'd turn to the racecards if I was you."

That was most emphatically not the case today, thanks to a fascinating meeting with one of my fellow bloggers on this site.

Not the beguiling Briony Craven-Russell, though I am sure she has an interesting tale to tell, as do the Irish trainers Philip Fenton and Robbie Hennessy and my globe-trotting colleague Nick Godfrey.

(Incidentally, not only is Godfrey the world's most travelled racing journalist he is also a good guy. In my PA days I wrote a feature on Stewards' Cup winner Shikari's Son which appeared in its entirety in the Racing Post under his name - that didn't bother me as it is what you expect with agencycopy but Nick took the trouble to phone me up and apologise).

No, I caught up with Australian trainer Anthony Cosgriff who is on a flying visit back to Middleham with Gorge, the hurdler boarding with Mark Johnston before a crack atthe Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Those of you who have read his blog - and if you haven't, you should - will know the fascinating tale behind horse and trainer, not to mention the owners. We spent an hour chattingin the staff canteen and my hardest job will be choosing the things not to include in a feature which is due to go in the paper early next week.

The horse, who is likely to be seen in public in Yorkshire next week, is a 50-1 shot in places for Cheltenham but his efforts in Australia have earned him a rating of 134 - and if he were to come home in front it would be a story good enough to wipe Kauto Star and Denman off the front page. Well almost.