In her latest column, North Yorkshire trainer Ann Duffield reflects on how some big changes might impact on racing

DURING the past fortnight, we’ve seen some prolific changes to our landscape, both in horse racing and elsewhere.

In the wake of the EU referendum, the country’s political profile has changed dramatically, with a new Prime Minister who, carrying a hatchet in her handbag, managed to cut out the dead wood, replacing it with fresh faces and hope for the future.

For horse racing fans and professionals, we can only hope the new team in place will help those of us working with horses to continue the good work already achieved.

It seems several of the new cabinet members are horse racing fans, which is great news for our sport as friends in high places can only help the sport to thrive.

Indeed, new Prime Minister Theresa May has already part-owned a racehorse some years ago. Perhaps we can tempt her to have another dabble…

CHANNEL 4 has announced its intention to “extricate itself from a contractual commitment to bow out at Newbury on December 31st – one day before ITV takes over as the sport’s new home at Cheltenham”.

North Yorkshire trainer Mark Johnston came in for heavy criticism in our trade paper, the Racing Post, when he called for the new racing channel team on ITV to ditch all betting talk and revert back to the coverage people most want to see: the grassroots in racing – the horses, the people, the characters and the sports stars.

Personally, I don’t necessarily think he meant all mention of betting because we know it’s a huge part of horse racing and a very big factor in the sport’s finances. However, I do agree with his point that betting has taken over and certainly it seems to take precedent over all else on our TV screens and this is certainly to the detriment of the sport.

People who like to bet love the sport in general but, without the colourful coverage of racing’s characters, the sport is far a less attractive proposition. Make watching horse racing interesting and the bets will follow automatically. Make it really interesting and it will attract a wider and younger audience who will become customers of the betting industry.

LAST weekend at The Curragh proved to be a fantastic one for North-East trainer Michael Dods and his superstar mare Mecca’s Angel.

She had flopped at Royal Ascot recently when she was found to be in season, but roared back to form in the Group 2 Kilfrush Stud Sapphire Stakes under Paul Mulrennan.

I love to see northern-based horses become stars of the sport and it’s such a relief to see Mecca’s Angel bounce back to her outstanding best. Well done to Michael and sporting owner David Metcalfe.

It makes the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting an exciting affair with Mecca’s Angel back to retain her crown, as long as the ground doesn’t come up too firm for her.

Paul Mulrennan, who is having a great season, doubled up at The Curragh on the Mick Easterby-trained Perfect Pasture in the 100,000 euro evoke.ie Scurry handicap to keep the northern flag flying.

Mick’s as astute as they come and he doesn’t send horses to Ireland for nothing.

AT York last week, our exciting colt Rainbow Mist won the Garbutt and Elliott Nursery Stakes in the manner of a decent horse.

Travelling fluently and quickening impressively in the final furlong, he won by two and a half lengths.

He is a smashing colt, bought by owner Craig Buckingham for only 12,000 guineas at Doncaster (Goffs) yearling sales, proving you don’t need to spend a fortune to buy a nice racehorse.

We think a lot of Rainbow Mist and we’re sure there’s more to come.

Hopefully, we’ll see him back in action at York for the valuable sales race in August and there is a possibility he may head to Goodwood for the Molecomb at the end of July.

THE sales are already looming, starting in August with the Premier sales at Doncaster (Goffs), and no doubt owners are already starting to think about next year.

The yearling sales are an exciting time and many owners love to be involved in the buying process, in fact it might be worth writing a buyers guide to the yearling sales as many prospective owners would love to know more but don’t know how to get involved.

Here’s hoping we can find another Rainbow Mist.