It has been a steep learning curve for Davy Condon since he succeeded Tony Dobbin at the Greystoke stable of Nicky Richards. Yet he is not the only jockey to experience a culture shock in crossing the Irish Sea.

Most imports tend to gravitate around Lambourn, which can feel like a home from home. Condon, however, is marooned on the northern edge of the Lake District. “It took a while before I started feeling comfortable,” he said, “but it's grand now. The last few weeks have been fabulous.”

Three winners at Kelso on Saturday and two since have more than doubled his seasonal total. “There are a lot of lovely young horses at the yard,” he said, “but they are only just coming to hand. One I like is Noble Alan, who I rode at Cheltenham last month.”

Talking of Cheltenham, Condon returns there on Sunday to partner Premier Dane in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. It will revive memories of his victory aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Ebaziyan in the 2007 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Condon journeyed to Bangor yesterday, when he partnered Grizebeck to victory in a novice hurdle. But if that seemed a long way to go for one ride, it pales by comparison with his 10,000-mile voyage for another solitary mount, aboard Holy Orders in the 2003 Melbourne Cup.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Condon said. “Back then, I never thought I'd end up living in a small village near Greystoke, but I'm delighted to be here.”

One delicate aspect of Paul Roy's post as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority is the regularity with which this successful hedge fund operator is invited to charity auction evenings. He is invariably expected to dig deep.

Most recently, Roy found himself embroiled in a spirited auction for a holiday in Spain at the Professional Jockeys' Association's Champions Dinner. His wife had long since fallen silent when bidding reached £15,000, and she morphed from red to purple when Roy called again at £19,000.

Fortunately, Roy's rival went in again at £20,000, and when guest auctioneer John Francome brought down the gavel, sighs of relief from the Roys were plainly audible. But Francome would have the last word.

“I suppose a better ride from Frankie Dettori on Sixties Icon might have made the difference there,” he said.

When it comes to books, racing enthusiasts are well catered for in the run-up to Christmas. Among the names on the stands this year is Mick Fitzgerald, whose prose, you've surely guessed it, is entitled Better Than Sex (Highdown, £18.99).

Two others worthy of attention take us behind the scenes. Edward Whitaker's In The Frame (Highdown, £30) depicts his 22 years as photographer with the Racing Post. So vividly are the four seasons captured by his lens that the book, launched five weeks ago, has already earned a reprint.

Desert Orchid Remembered is from the pen of Midge Burridge, wife of the late Jimmy, who bred the grey. Where this one scores is that the author, in addition to handling the unbroken Desert Orchid, also cared for him in his retirement.

While his racing deeds have been widely chronicled, here is a warm insight into a horse who was as busy in retirement as he was in training. Anecdotes abound in a privately published memoir so apposite for the time of year. The book (£15.99) is only available from the author at Letterbox Cottage, Taston, OX7 3JL.