Double Delight At The Seaside

Carlsberg don't do days at the races but if they did, they'd probably be...like last Tuesday.
I really couldn't have thought of a better day than I had at Yarmouth; sipping champagne in the sun at the caravan of Sancho Panza's owner, Carol Bushnell (who was also celebrating her birthday), was a real delight - and that was before the racing had begun!
The day just got better and better as Sail Home lived up to her name and narrowly managed to last home and win by a nose. That was pretty good but to cap it all off, Sancho Panza followed up in the next race by hacking up with a seven-length victory and in the process landing the third double of my training career. We had a fair bit more champagne after that!
But seriously, both horses surprised me as I wasn't sure they would handle the fast ground but luckily both races were weak enough for them to win even with conditions against them.

Sancho Panza has a few entries this week at Haydock, York and Newbury. If he is put up more than six pounds by the handicapper on Tuesday, I'll probably run him at the first named course, otherwise it's the latter two, ground dependent. He's in flying form and should win again.

Later on last week we had a whole load of horses travelling to the big meeting at York. Both Emma's Gift and Red Hearts went in the hope of landing some black type form to boost their pedigrees and, although they narrowly missed doing this, they both ran blinders.
Spirit of Sharjah and Night Orbit ran great races too despite having their excuses but Blackmore failed to show us his best and at first we were mystified by the performance but afterwards he had a very sore back which is being treated now by the physiotherapist and the ground was probably a bit too quick for him. He's still a stayer going places.

I'm hoping the yard's good form can carry on this week as I've got some fancied runners.
Tomorrow, Khajaaly goes to Wolverhampton in the hope he can get back on a winning trend. We've found the key to him is keeping him fresh so he's had a short break but he's very fit and if he can get the breaks, he should be in the money. Bavarica is also at Dunstall Park that day but she's not very well in at the weights as the race is a claimer and I've put her in for the top price because I don't want another trainer buying my favourite horse. My daughter Shelley rides her for the first time and she's had plenty of orders from my son Ross who has won on her four times. She's reliable and tough so should have an each way chance.

Then we're quiet until the weekend with the already mentioned Sancho Panza and loads of runners on Saturday.
Alan Dee's two horses, Spirit of Sharjah and Emmeline Pankhurst, go to Goodwood because the owner is having a function there. Spirit is running over six furlongs which will not suit him but Emmeline ran better than the form suggests last time and the step up in trip will see her in a better light.
The same day, I'll have Bavarica, Sail Home and King Columbo entered in the amateur race at Newbury that I have won for the past three years running. I've never planned to win it so much but it just seems to be a lucky contest for us. I won't be running all three against each other but I hope whatever runs can win it for a fourth time.



Three To Follow Update

The Tuesday double shook things up considerably and now Rita Aspland and Adam Beschizza find themselves sharing the top spot. Considering Adam rode both winners, at least I know he was trying!

1st - Rita Aspland, Adam Beschizza (25 points)
3rd - Peter Darlington, Julia Feilden, Poppy Feilden, Tetanya (20 points)
7th - Maureen Youngs, Shelley Birkett (18 points)
13 others on 15 points, 3 on 10 points, 1 on 8 points, 6 on 5 points and 1 on zero.