Punting plan for nascent Flat season is elementary my dear Watson

Not one for making plans, I surprised myself the other day by pondering a strategy for the new Flat season. It was pretty basic, no need to write it down or anything, and involved catching as many of Richard Fahey's handicappers as possible and making the most of the new arrangement at Beckhampton, whereby champion apprentice Jason Watson will ride for Roger Charlton.

Fahey started with something best described as a minor work of art. Right Action won last year's seven-furlong handicap at Doncaster off a mark of 82 and obliged this time off 81. Given that he followed up at Catterick 12 months ago, that is remarkable in itself. But Fahey let him go on doing his best for the rest of the campaign and there were ten more outings. Silvestre de Sousa was not required for any of those but was back on board seven days ago. Right Action ran much the same race but won by half a length instead of three-quarters. Don't tell me they're not machines; that's precisely what we need them to be, isn't it?

As one who has followed and backed horses trained at Beckhampton for many years, going back to Jeremy Tree, the eccentric owner-breeder Monica Sheriffe and beyond, I find the recruitment of Watson highly significant. Charlton was in the habit of using the best available (often Ryan Moore) but clearly thought he needed someone more permanent. Forbidden Planet's easy victory in the Rosebery is merely the start of my determined assault on the sunlit uplands.