Racing books of the year: from heroic horses and riders to smart betting advice

Must-read tale of diminutive champion

Tiger Roll: The Little Legend edited by Andrew Pennington
£20, published by Racing Post Books, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

It is questionable whether anyone could have predicted Tiger Roll’s rise to immortality when winning the Triumph Hurdle but, more than five years and a book later, here we are.

Gordon Elliott’s diminutive star joins the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Frankel and Cue Card to have his own book and it is as compelling a tale as one is likely to find.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation, the son of Derby winner Authorized has indeed hit the heights of fame – albeit not in the manner expected.

After failing to run on the Flat, he was purchased for £10,000 by Nigel Hawke and started his career with a straightforward win in a Market Rasen juvenile hurdle before being sent to Gordon Elliott a month later in December 2013.

Tiger Roll landed the first of his Cheltenham Festival victories that season in the Triumph Hurdle, partnered by Davy Russell, who would later play a significantly bigger part in the extraordinary story.

A spell in the wilderness followed his first festival success but, as this book reveals, Tiger Roll has a unique determination to win and an even bigger heart that has led him to two Grand National triumphs and four festival victories.

From the Triumph Hurdle over two miles to the four-mile National Hunt Chase and two cross-country wins, he stands out as one of the most versatile horses in jump racing.

Unlike the horses mentioned above, Michael O’Leary’s superstar did not stand out from an early age nor was he expected to reach such dazzling heights. The beauty of this book is that it demonstrates how brilliant horses come in all different shapes and sizes.

Two of the chapters are dedicated to the nine-year-old’s Aintree heroics and, after his second triumph in the race, there are tributes aplenty from the likes of JP McManus, Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain and Jessica Harrington. It is truly remarkable to see the racing world united behind a Flat discard.

This is a must-have edition for any racing enthusiast with Racing Post’s expert analysis, race reports and Alastair Down’s typically lyrical tributes. The book also demonstrates how loved Tiger Roll is by Elliott, his owners and, above all, the racing public.

It is testament to a wonderful horse who has been compared with the legendary Red Rum and, perhaps in years to come, will be recalled just as fondly.
Kitty Trice

Youngest Mongol Derby winner's inspirational steppes to success

Rough Magic by Lara Prior-Palmer
£16.99, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

In 2013 Lara Prior-Palmer became the youngest winner of the Mongol Derby, a feat of endurance across the vast Mongolian plains once traversed by the people of Genghis Khan.

Rough Magic traces Prior-Palmer's journey as she recounts the restlessness that pushed her to enter and how, as an underprepared 19-year-old, she left the comforts of England in search of adventure.

Self-doubt gradually evaporates into a steely determination as she rides 25 ponies across 1,000km in just ten days, battling extreme conditions and sleeping at the homes of nomadic families.

Prior-Palmer overcomes bouts of illness and dehydration to defy her wildest expectations by not only finishing, a remarkable feat in itself, but becoming the first woman to win the race.

However, this is so much more than an account of unlikely sporting achievement and, while it is tempting to view such adventures symbolically, it resists becoming a grand coming-of-age tale – her 'accidental' victory is ultimately downplayed.

Instead, the beauty of Rough Magic is in its poetry. Metaphysical flourishes spring from her encounter with a billowing landscape that challenges her sense of self and gives the book a mythic quality.

We feel the urgency of her will to win but long to dwell on her experience of timelessness on the steppes, where her reflections on life are artfully mixed with a celebration of the horse.

Each member of her motley crew of ponies is named – one after race photographer and dual Grand National winner Richard Dunwoody – and the author shares an inspiring affinity with them.

This is an extraordinary story of one young woman's encounter with the unknown, in which moments of wisdom and self-awareness sit seamlessly alongside a detailed narrative.

Prior-Palmer concludes that "endings fade, but the force behind a story lives on" and it is this captivating impulse to keep moving forward that so engages and inspires the reader.
Jonathan Harding

The poster boys and girls have shone through in seismic year for racing

Racing Post Annual 2020 edited by Nick Pulford
£12.99, published by Racing Post Books, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

In a year full of triumphs and turmoil, heartwarming stories and record-breakers, the 2020 Racing Post Annual shines a spotlight on the biggest stories of the racing year.

Despite some seismic events over the course of the last 12 months, the poster boys and girls have shone through and there is plenty for racing fans to look forward to in the coming year.

Seldom has there been a year in which so many feelgood stories have surfaced in both codes and this 224-page guide encapsulates the emotion behind the stories that tugged at the heartstrings of the wider public.

These tales range from Tiger Roll’s stunning achievement when retaining his Grand National crown to Enable's heroics and a marvellous Cheltenham Festival Thursday.

Frodon and effusive partner Bryony Frost took a huge scalp in the Ryanair Chase and that preceded an equally significant event as the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park triumphed in the Stayers' Hurdle for owner Andrew Gemmell.

The beautifully crafted book cover features racing’s superheroes, with Frankie Dettori and the now-retired Ruby Walsh among a quartet of renowned and recognisable figures who played their part in a thrilling 2019.

Although perhaps none may be considered as super as Khadijah Mellah, who made history when becoming the first person to race in a hijab and win at Glorious Goodwood on an unforgettable day on the Sussex Downs.

While it is enjoyable to reflect on the past, it is important to look to the future and the Annual 20 section pays homage to the stars of tomorrow.

Rarely is a juvenile able to capture the imagination of the racing world in quite the way the unbeaten Pinatubo has. The son of Shamardal surpassed the rating Frankel reached as a two-year-old and the following line breeds encouragement that he could develop into a true great next season: "Precocious two-year-olds can burn themselves out through over-exuberance but there seems little danger of that with Pinatubo."

Insightful interviews with emerging broadcaster Chris Hughes, along with top trainers Aidan O’Brien and Willie Mullins, are also worthy of mention.

Racing also paid tribute to retiring stars and supermares Winx and Laurens, who are among those bowing out after glittering careers.

In its ninth year, the Racing Post Annual 2020 has 16 pages of additional content this year and for the same price.

This is the perfect Christmas present for any ardent racing fan and its lack of glossing over the major issues is what makes it stand out as a fine read.
Kitty Trice

So you want to be a jockey . . .

Starting From Scratch by Henrietta Knight
£20, published by Racing Post Books, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

Having successfully delved behind the scenes at some of the most celebrated yards in Britain and Ireland in The Jumping Game, three-time Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight is at it again as she spins the spotlight from trainers to jockeys in Starting From Scratch.

At 72, Knight would be forgiven for easing down a little, but even with her equine jumping academy in West Lockinge thriving she has found the time to produce a book jam-packed with the individual stories of more than 80 jockeys past and present, skilfully uncovering the roots that inspired them to pursue a career over jumps, while homing in on exactly what makes this rarest of breeds tick.

Not only does the book bring fascinating insight from some of the bravest sportsmen and women in the world, but through her vast knowledge of equestrian sports Knight's voice is ever-present to educate the reader as she underlines the qualities and, occasionally, the shortcomings in the saddle of those she profiles.

But Starting From Scratch is not about its intriguing author, rather the incredible and varied stories of the subjects she has chosen, and it soon becomes abundantly clear there is anything but a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to nurturing a top-notch rider.

The list of jockeys is as varied as it is long and, while Knight would no doubt have liked to have featured many more, there are a few occasions when certain profiles are cut short a little prematurely to cater for such an extensive list.

However, breaking it down into bite-size chunks makes this book incredibly easy to digest and there is also a refreshing freedom to it that enables the reader to flit to and fro whichever riders take their fancy at any particular moment.

Personal highlights have to be the chapters on Timmy Murphy and Richard Dunwoody; two incredibly complex individuals who were blessed with an innate talent on horseback. Their fascinating stories are told particularly deftly by the author.

The trust Knight has earned from those she interviews makes for a compelling end product and a must for any Christmas stocking.
Lewis Porteous

Smart betting advice from the Racing Post’s experts

Racing Post Betting Guide
£14.99, published by Racing Post Books, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

The Racing Post Betting Guide is an easy-to-read and weighty compendium for the modern world of punting, taking the reader from the basics of betting to smarter ways of placing their money across a whole range of sports.

There are no sure-fire punts or guaranteed profits within its 256 pages but that is not the aim. This book is about allowing the reader to build and rely on their own knowledge to bet with confidence.

Since the invention of Betfair in 2000 and the mass move online, bookmakers have never been closer to their customers. Punters are able to place bets at the click of a button – on the move, from the pub and even in the office – and the gambling industry has boomed.

That speed and ease of punting brings danger to the unwary, however, and this guide helps the reader navigate the fast-moving landscape, walking readers through betting strategies and highlighting ways of making profit in markets they may never have considered.

Horseracing is covered in depth, of course, with top Racing Post experts such as Tom Segal and Paul Kealy offering their valuable insight and a wide variety of topics are discussed, including form, favourites and festivals. There are also suggestions on ways to specialise, such as in pedigrees, two-year-olds or multiple betting.

A wide variety of other sports and betting markets are also dissected, reflecting the recent growth beyond horserace betting.

Mark Langdon leads off 11 chapters on football betting, now such a popular and expanding medium, covering subjects such as in-play, first goalscorer and win to nil as well as singles and accumulators.

Steve Palmer is the main guide in an extensive look at golf, another growth market. Readers are introduced to the basics of punting on the sport before gaining a specific insight into what to look out for when placing a pre-tournament bet.

The guide then takes the reader through in-play betting and how to maximise the fluctuating odds of a tournament market, before ending with golf specials, which are rich in value.

Other chapters look at cricket, tennis, rugby and much more.

Editor Tom Park has done a fantastic job in bringing together expert advice for such a range of sports and putting it all together in one simple, understandable book.

Complicated jargon is explained in layman's terms throughout and the use of clever illustration further aids the understanding of terms and strategies the reader may be unfamiliar with.

This guide eliminates the need for quick-fix tips and is an encyclopedia of knowledge you can fall back on at any stage.
Joe Tuffin

Question: are you up for a challenge?

The Racing Post Quiz Book
£12.99, published by Racing Post Books, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

This quiz book is a must-have for any racing enthusiast keen to put their knowledge to the test. Whether you think you are a Group 1 performer or an up-and-coming prospect, there are questions for everyone in this book.

Made up of 1,000 questions, which test the reader on everything from top trainers such as Nicky Henderson and Aidan O’Brien to the missing word rounds, this imaginative book will give racing fans many a happy hour being thoroughly entertained, while the answers in the back mean there is no need to use Google.

The wide-ranging topics, which can go from the Spanish Inquisition to William Shakespeare as well as more conventional racing subjects, require a well-rounded mind and someone who is prepared to get stuck in. The questions come thick and fast and can be tackled just as enjoyably on your own or with friends and family.

With Christmas approaching, it is the perfect stocking filler for any racing fan. Sometimes they will be baffled or bamboozled, but they will not be bored.
Kitty Trice

Racing history brought to life in a Victorian scandal featuring a Derby hero

Duel by Paul Mathieu
£20, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

There are no pistols at dawn in this retelling of one of many society scandals of the Victorian era but plenty of explosive revelations for the 21st century racing fan.

Paul Mathieu has already earned himself a reputation for bringing racing history to life with The Druids Lodge Confederacy and opening the lid on stories from the famous stables at Beckhampton and Manton.

Duel comes from the same stable and produces another Group performer with a tale ostensibly revolving around the 1867 Derby winner Hermit, described in the book as “at best an average Derby winner".

The story uncovers the past of the Danebury racing estate, which had its own racecourse at Stockbridge, where Ken Cunningham-Brown is based and Richard Hughes started his training career. Sir Mark Prescott’s 1848 painting of the old Danebury stables features among the pictures in the book.

In the 19th century, the Day family resided on the Wiltshire estate, where chicanery and Classic winners were the norm. It was into this world that one of the duellists Harry, Marquis of Hastings, falls – without much pushing it has to be said. In the other corner is Hermit's owner Mr Henry Chaplin, a Lincolnshire vicar’s son later to become a distinguished and ennobled politician.

What amounts to the prologue, introducing the duellists, their seconds and their place in Victorian society, is overly elaborate as evidenced by the author’s referencing of 67 other books in his research, but it is still well worth wading through as it builds up to the scandalous treachery of Lady Flora Paget, renowned as ‘The Pocket Venus’, who marries Hastings while engaged to Chaplin.

Mathieu is then off to the races and the pace duly quickens. Racing fact and fiction in the 19th century are not easily distinguishable amid the ruses and rumour, but even if only half the legend of Hermit is true it is a rollicking story.

Connections started 'plunging' more than a year before the race with bets totalling £16 million on Hermit in today's money, and in Hastings they found a layer who was both ready and willing to accommodate them. On the home gallop Hermit was said to have given 35lb and a comfortable beating to a fellow two-year-old Problem, who was to go on to win the Brocklesby from 21 rivals.

Hermit's two-year-old career was less successful and was curtailed halfway through the season. His chances were rubbished everywhere and after bursting blood vessels in his Derby gallop ten days before the race his odds shot out to 66-1, with Hastings happy to add to his growing liabilities.

Hermit worked along with other leading Derby candidates at Epsom the day before the race and Hastings had the chance to hedge his liabilities of around £10m but like many since he stuck to his guns and paid a heavy price.

A brilliantly told tale by a master of his craft.
Bruce Jackson

Spread betting pioneer who had the odds in his favour from an early age

Winning Against The Odds by Stuart Wheeler
£20, available to buy from racingpost.com/shop

Depending on your political leanings, not to mention where you stand on Brexit, you may not necessarily want to like Stuart Wheeler's autobiography, but you probably will.

Not everyone will find favour with his politics or position on Europe but there is a good chance you will like Wheeler, or at least like him more than you thought you would. That might potentially prove a tad frustrating, but given Wheeler's life story makes for rather an enjoyable read, the frustration is, on balance, worthwhile.

Politics and Europe form an important part of Winning Against The Odds, but so too, as the title suggests, does Wheeler's hand in the world of gambling.

In 1974 he founded spread betting company IG Index. Readers learn plenty about that and also about his many successful experiences outfoxing rival players over a card table. Yet oddly, for a book subheaded My Life in Gambling and Politics, the bits about gambling are not nearly as interesting as those about politics or, indeed, the author's wider life.

The story of IG is told in roughly 40 pages, in which Wheeler details how a business born from nothing had only two customers on its first trading day and hardly any over the weeks that followed, the situation being so dicey that in year two the company lost roughly £12,000, with Wheeler having to make an income from playing bridge. "Once a week," he recalls, "I would calculate exactly where I was financially, and try to see if I could stay afloat for the next seven days."

Things got better. By 1978 profit before tax had risen to over £21,000. By September 2001, when IG went public, Wheeler was worth around £30 million. The following year he stepped down as chief executive and not long later decided he wanted to sell his shares. A number of the original shareholders showed their loyalty by following suit. All of them were making bad moves, as Wheeler explains: "Had those who had put up £5,000 originally kept their shares they would later have been worth about £200 million, something that naturally troubles me."

Wheeler did not make quite as much money as he might but he was still left in a rather healthy financial position. In that sense, Winning Against The Odds is an overly romantic way to sum up his life. It suggests a rags-to-riches tale. This is very much not one of those.

For while he was an adopted child whose father died at the age of seven, Wheeler went on to benefit hugely from the English class system. He attended Eton – which in the late 1940s and early 1950s is painted, whether intentionally or not, as an appalling establishment, riddled with snobbery, privilege and bullying – and then on beginning National Service he was elevated into officer training simply because he had attended public school.

Entry into Oxford University was no more arduous or based on merit, with Wheeler writing: "Things were so much easier (for some) in those days. I went to Christ Church for the exams. I was given a brief maths paper, and a general paper, and was asked a handful of questions at an interview. That I had been Captain of the Oppidans at Eton very likely ensured that however I did in either of the tests, and whatever answers I gave during the interview, I was pretty certain to get a place."

It's all rather depressing, although in Wheeler's defence at no point does he try to pretend otherwise, nor does he defend the system as it then was. Over the course of the book he impresses as a man with a clear understanding of right and wrong, although it is easy to infer he believed his vast political donations – including one of £5m to the Conservative Party – should have bought him greater influence on policy. That he had any influence might be seen as a perpetuation of the unfair advantages he enjoyed in youth.

Towards the end of the book, Wheeler's desire for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union is the dominant theme, with that desire so strong he makes clear he would be prepared to see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland become independent nations if it meant England could split from the EU. Strangely, we never really get to understand why he has for so long wanted that split to happen.

That is a shame – as is the fact there is no index – but that does not overly detract from what is a highly readable book. You might not like or agree with everything you read but you will almost certainly keep turning the pages. That makes this a success.
Lee Mottershead

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