The Tatling runs his last race

Highlight of a very poor all-weather card at Wolverhampton today is the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.45 CET, in which the popular veteran The Tatling (Milton Bradley/ Richard Kingscote) gives his farewell performance. At 14, he is the oldest horse in training on the flat in Britain and has quite a fan club. He has run 166 times, winning 17 races (including aat Royal Ascot in his heyday) and placing 49 times.

We would love to see him go out with a win today, but do not really believe it. He has a dreadful draw (11 of 13) and has been racing without his usual zest this year. Although he has been placed on numerous occasions, he has only won once in the last 2 years. With some regret we pass him over today in favour of the better-drawn Namir (Herbie Evans/ Dane O´Neill), Grand Stitch (Declan Carroll/ Danny Tudhope) and Mosa Mine (Brian Palling/ Eddie Ahern).

John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed´s bloodstock adviser, has discovered a way of passing the winter- training hurdlers, and has made an amazing start to his new career, with a strike rate of 38%. We expect him to continue in this vein today at Fakenham by winning the maiden hurdle at 14.00 with Showmanship and the novice hurdle at 16.30 with Cotton Bill; Jack Quinlan rides them both.