However, when they are uttered, it's important that one takes heed. Bint Allayl, Queen's Logic and Flashy Wings all prompted this immortal uttering between work rider and trainer. It was never applied to Alfred though, which leaves many of us baffled.

There might just be one amongst this morning's work video, although we'll leave it to your judgement as work riders from far and wide descended upon "God's Country" as the Cheltenham Festival heralds the start of spring & summer.

Today we stepped up a gear with both our older horses and the two year olds.

You can keep "The Heath" and Ditcheat. 

West Ilsley ain't too bad at times.

It's on the Latest Gallops Page.

They are all on the Latest Gallops page

The week just gets better and better for us as there's a Paul Nicholls stable tour on Wednesday and apparently the gatepost at Ditcheat is being interviewed tomorrow. 

All exclusive! - GET IT ONLY IN THE POST.

2009 was a year of frustration for the Southampton based owners who include Riley's breeder Mark Barret who was on hand in Dubai to see the son of Hunting Lion bounce back to the sort of form he showed as a two year old in 2008. His entire three year old career was a write-off due to injury and although pitching him in at the ultra competitive Dubai Racing Carnival, we're delighted to have found that Riley's ability remains and we look forward to 2010 on home soil with relish.

With yet another wide draw to contend with, jockey Alan Munro allowed his mount to settle in behind the leaders and improved his position round the bend before mounting his challenge with two furlongs remaining. It looked to be a decisive move as Rileyskeepingfaith picked up his rivals before a battle ensued involving Good Control and the eventual winner Star Crowned. 

Arguably Riley might have held on for third but for receiving a whip to the head from Star Crowned's jockey Royston Ffrench - but that's racing and despite running on gamely, Alo Pura just edged us out of third place.

"That's the Riley we've been hoping to see and I'm delighted with the run," said Mick, "We'll look into our options regarding next week, but most importantly the horse has shown enough to Mark and the Jolly Roger team to inspire confidence ahead of the turf season back home."

In the meantime, many of the world's flat trainers can just about to avert their attention to a small course in the desert called Meydan. Ok, so it's not exactly Fakenham, but it'll do for us mere mortals, struggling to make ends meet as we take on competition on a truly global scale.

Rileyskeepingfaith takes on a field of twelve in tonight's Meydan Museum Handicap wearing a visor for the first time. The field is made up of horses from eight different nations and although the son of Hunting Lion's bare form might look modest, Mick is more than happy with his progress since his return to action.

"Riley's in good form and we've put the visors on him to help him focus. He worked in them last week and they certainly helped him round the bend where he's found it a little bit difficult to organize himself. We hope to step up on last weeks solid performance."

Montaff lines up in the DRC Gold Cup at 6.20 pm after a very encouraging display finishing a close seventh behind Age of Reason - who he takes on again, this time over two miles.

"If Montaff can stay the trip, we'll have plenty of options open to us all year. He certainly stepped up on his reapperance last time and if he can follow that up and gain a little consistency in his performances, we'll be delighted."

And with that Mick disappeared to his prayer room - a new feature at West Ilsley - that involves a mat and a life-sized Buddha resembling Paul Nicholls.

 Halicarnassus and Montaff are also on show and in great spirits, whilst there is frustration with Youmzain, who’s to remain in quarantine for a few more days due to one of the other recent arrivals running a high temperature. He’ll be just trotting around the ring for a few days but this is merely a minor irritation with the Sheema Classic not until March 27th. 

 Sam Hitchcott and Lesley White are joined by Michelle Saunders in the steady canter round the monstrous Meydan track - Michelle deserted us all at West Ilsley a couple of years ago for some bloke called Ryan Moore 

 The video also features the rock that Mick parked someone else’s car on last week – a must see I think you’ll agree. It’s on the Latest Features page

Sam Hitchcott who broke Youmzain all those years ago, flew over with him and there's no finer sight than the pair of them squabbling as Sam tries to convince the horse that his way is the best way. Youmzain, as ever, totally disagrees, but they always work it out in the end, much to the amusement of the Boss who chuckled throughout the morning.

"Sam seems to know how to deal with Youmzain and with Lesley White already out here, he has two people who know his ways as they've dealt with him since he started. He just knows the score and can be a bit of a lad when he's had a couple of days off, but he'll canter tomorrow and then we'll be back in the swing of things.

"Today was just getting him out and about, he had a good trot for 15 minutes and there's no better exercise for the horse than seeing him drag Sam around the yard for half an hour or so to cool down.

"In terms of his condition, he's certainly more forward in his coat than in previous years and came out of his box like a lion. He's great, I love the spirit that defines a good horse - he's a hooligan at the moment and fitter at this stage than he's ever been." 

Of a more pressing nature, RILEYSKEEPINGFAITH continues his progress into his four year old campaign after missing the entire of 2009 through a series of niggling injuries. He'll line up on Thursday in the 6 furlong handicap on the all-weather for his second start at Meydan. His reappearance saw him run far better than the bare form suggests and Mick is certainly upbeat about his progress.

"When Riley arrived he was very wooly in his coat, but he looks a different horse in two short weeks. He's put on weight and has really thrived - I wouldn't be surprised if he ran a real big race this week. He's loving life again."

HALICARNASSUS and MONTAFF accompanied Riley in a six furlong spin on the Meydan tapeta track this morning, with Halicarnassus showing his well-being after his victory last week whilst Montaff continues to please as he looks to the two mile event next week.

On a separate issue, the Boss was quick to deny any rumours that have filtered through about a slight altercation in the desert on Friday morning. Apparently, having borrowed a Toyota Yaris from the travelling head lass of a noted adversary in order to travel from the yard to watch the horses work, he took a "short cut" only to ground the chassis on the only rock for miles around. It's alleged that he then simply abandoned the car, hitched a lift to the track and got someone to tow it out for him. Upon his return to the yard, he then went on to deny any knowledge of the incident, despite several eye witnesses hearing him utter the phrases, "Drat", "Silly Me" and "Darn it".

"That's utter *******s!" He said in his defence. "Besides, it was a Toyota Camry, not a Yaris."

This website wouldn't wish to spread gossip, but let's just say that if MRC is to be referred to as "The Doctor", the car in question has links to a rival trainer that we'll call "The Veterinary".

Stalls introduction is always carried out in the indoor school, allowing the babies to make a key step in their career advancement in the safest environment possible. Head Lads Jon and Olly are ably assisted by Fat Ali in walking them through the open stalls one at a time, while Assistant Trainer Joe stands at a far safer distance ordering them around.

It seems to be an effective method and this year every one of the colts performed admirably bar one. As you'll see on the video, Gordon was sat on a slightly nervous individual and did well to stay on board. For that he deserves a medal and Ali deserves a Kebab.

The video is on the Latest Features Page

http://www.mickchannon.tv/opinion.php

A runner-up on his seasonal reappearance a fortnight ago, "Hali" has now earned Doric Racing some £85,000 in fourteen short days - not a bad return with the whole season in front of them! Terry "The Rag" Ralph, Mike & Alison Jones, Gerald & Ruth Blackwell and Mick & Jill were all on duty in the UAE to scream Hali home as he prevailed by a short head from Morilyan.

Although normally produced fast and late, the early lack of pace saw jockey Alan Munro decide to make the running ahead of the first turn and it was a performance of perfection. Mick was the first to heap praise on the man who steered Hali to success in the Group 2 Bosphorus Cup in Instanbul last October.

"Alan's won us the race, as simple as that." Stated a fired up Mick. "People can say we stole the race and that might be true to a certain degree, but horses like Halicarnassus require a lot of beating and they all had a stab at him in the straight and only the widest challenger of all Morilyan posed a late threat. 

"He's a remarkable horse who's given us the greatest pleasure, right from his victory in the Group 2 Superlative as a two year-old, up until this evening as a six year old at Meydan.

"He means a lot to all of us at West Ilsley and all in Doric Racing - we are all great friends and have had some great nights toasting this great horse. Tonight I'm sure will be no different - Hali now represents a very simple motto for our racing, "Enjoy!""

The horse was bought as a yearling at Tattersalls by Gill Richardson in company with Mick and our great friend, the late Tim Corby - so tonight is all the more poignant. 

Tonight was Halicarnassus's 48th career start and his career earnings now see him just short of £700,000 in prize-money - Enjoy indeed!

It's very steady stuff but you may be interested all the same - even though you'll need to be a hell of a lot more talented than the commentator on the videos, who makes Thommo look good.

Yes, I'm aware that many of them have been named already, but we've stuck to their sire's as identification for the time being - the hard work of re-identifying them will now begin in earnest.

It's all on the latest Gallops Page http://www.mickchannon.tv/owner.php