If Dick Francis never writes another thriller, the fans hungry for intrigue and a smell of danger, don't have far to look.
They have only to turn to 'The Wayward Lad', the recently published autobiography of jockey Graham Bradley.
In the top echelon of his profession for the last 20 years, Bradley was never far from controversy, which he balanced with a style and brilliance in the saddle equalled by only a few.
For most of his career Graham Bradley went for quality rather than quantity and his total of almost 750 successes at home and in Ireland, France and the USA barely did justice to his considerable ability.
Graham could never resist a party and was frequently home from a celebratory bash only just in time to change and appear on the gallops in the morning.
The bizarre story of how his habit of over-sleeping cost him the ride on the favourite in the 1996 Champion Hurdle, and which then enabled him to partner the eventual winner, Collier Bay, beggars belief.
Graham's involvement in the more recent suggestions of race course villainy is covered in full. 'The Wayward Lad', with Steve Taylor is punblished by Greenwater Publishing.
- Robin Gray
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