Raring to go!

With the Cheltenham Festival out of the way, it's not long now until the turf season kicks off again and I can't wait. As I've said before, this is the first time we have had two designated winter and summer squads so it is a great feeling to know we are heading into a new campaign with fresh (and hopefully well-handicapped) horses. The all-weather team did themselves proud by notching plenty of winners and giving us a healthy strike-rate, let's hope the turf team can keep up the good work.

Before that though, there are still a few weeks to wait until Doncaster opens the season on April 2nd. After a quiet fortnight or so with only a trickle of runners, we will be busy at Southwell on Wednesday with four horses entered.
Dark Diamond kicks things off and I hope the step up to 1m6f can show him up well as he looked like he needed further last time. He is in off a low weight and it just depends if there is something better than him on the day.
Limerick Lord bounced right back to form with a second place at the course last week and I've put him in again over the the same course and distance this time. He has come out of the run well and I don't see why he shouldn't fare well again.

Handheld (Liam) & Dark Diamond (Nick)

Another coming back into form is Star Of The Stage who showed he likes Southwell's unique surface with a placing there last time. On that run, one mile should be perfect for him and I hope he can back up that solid debut.
Completing the quartet is Candesta. He is least likely to run however as he had an abscess on his cheek pop this week and it has been a bit sore, even though he has been doing all his exercise with plenty of enthusiasm. We will have to wait and see how he fares before declaring.

Sunday could see the return of yard favourite Silver Alliance as he kicks off another campaign at Kempton. You can always rely on him to win a race and he has managed to get his head in front six times since we bought him. He usually hits peak form in the summer so I expect him to need the run.
Also there will be Veeraya. He is becoming well handicapped now and showed that to be true with a close third at Wolverhampton last time. He usually needs a long break between his races so that is a concern but he has been fresh and well at home since that run last week.

Silver Alliance (Tess) & Vastly (Mark)

I couldn't be happier with how stable star Sabre Rock's return to full fitness has been going and he got through another gallop in style this weekend. All being well, I think we could see him out again at Doncaster on April 3rd. He is an unbeaten 5 from 5 for us but I still think he is very unexposed as all his wins were at Lingfield - a track I don't think even suits him!
It is likely that The Ducking Stool will be accompanying him to Doncaster for her comeback too as there is another race for her there.

The Ducking Stool (Ross) & Sabre Rock (Mark)

Duke Of Diamonds (Caitlin) & Little Orchid (Sam)

Go On Gal has taken all her work well and looks set to return to action very soon. She has a great attitude and that counts for a lot in racehorses as, when the going gets tough, you need a horse who is willing to stick their neck out, dig deep and win races.
Kemsing has been freshened up after a busy and successful spell. He seems to be a much better horse at Southwell than anywhere else so I'll save him for a race there at the end of the month.

Kemsing (Ross) & Go On Gal (Chloe)

Secret Ballerina remains on course to be our first two-year old runner of the year at Windsor on April 18th. She is getting sharper with every gallop she does and I hope she can give her syndicate of owners plenty of fun this year.

Secret Ballerina (Adam) & Harry Bosch (Mark)

My Name Is Jeff (Ross) & Star Of The Stage (Caitlin)

THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE

Michael Buckley	6
Jane Shirran	5
Dee Clarke	5
George Hall	5
Paul Matthews	5
Nick Feilden	3
Mason Brown	3
Clare Peacock	3
Pauline Kennedy	2
Jonathan Kinge	2
Dave Morris	2
Linda Wright	2
Dave Barnett	2
Dudley Lever	2

PLUS 36 others on 1 point

PLUS 39 others on 0 points