Butter-fingers Hobbs fails to hold on as racing club with a difference takes off

Nicky Henderson scooped another prize at the 52nd annual Horserace Writers and Photographers Awards in London on Monday, when he was named jumps trainer of the year, but he was out of luck at the Queens Arms Racing Club's recent gong ceremony.

The event, which was hosted by legends Joe Mercer and Jimmy Lindley, marked one year of the popular East Garston pub's syndicate, which gives people the chance to feel like an owner with nominated horses to follow from 22 yards, but without vet bills or driving trainers mad with requests for pie-in-the-sky running plans.

It was a good time to catch up with the club's driving force and Queen's landlord Freddie Tulloch, whose parents owned 1985 Hennessy hero Galway Blaze.