Probably the least promising statement you can put in a press release is “”Inspired from meeting John Major…”” Now, I’m prepared to concede that the ex-PM may be a decent bloke, but inspirational? Anyway, this rather thin story of a racing-mad young amateur jockey bonding with his prospective-MP father during the course of a by-election campaign is probably sufficient testimony to his inspirational qualities. The plot is fairly insubstantial, the characterisation rather sketchy and the crime level would hardly have bothered Miss Marple. The most dissatisfying aspect of this book is that when Francis does write about horse racing (which has to get a look in) his prose communicates all of the excitement and emotions involved but when he veers off into human relationships and (worse) politics his touch isn’t so sure and sometimes the writing is just plain ordinary. What matters here is whether there is enough substance in the main character to gain your sympathy. If there is then this becomes an untroubling enjoyable read. If there isn’t then you’ll have worked out all the whodunnit bits well before the end and will only finish it off to prove yourself right. I’m afraid I fell into the latter category.
