What looked likely to be a busy week failed to materialise after Blackmore, Pyjoma and Spirit of Sharjah were all withdrawn from their engagements due to the ground being too firm.
It really has been a severe drought and I can't remember ever experiencing such a long spell without rain so early in the year. Knowing how this country works, we'll probably be in for a horrendously wet summer and I'll be moaning then too!
It really has been a severe drought and I can't remember ever experiencing such a long spell without rain so early in the year. Knowing how this country works, we'll probably be in for a horrendously wet summer and I'll be moaning then too!
It was a dusty scene on Thursday night for the annual Newmarket Heath Race. O
nce again, we sent some of our staff to run but sadly couldn't field a team of three as Adam was riding at Ffos Las. He couldn't have been further away even if he tried! However, Ross finished 7th and Shelley 88th (both pictured at the front in green shirts) out of 200-odd runners (including The Stig) and both recorded times quicker than last year so it was a good performance all round.
The rain does seem to be easing its way into things though and places around the country have been drenched but Newmarket remains a barren landscape - we had a sprinkle this morning but nothing significant for at least a month now.
We'll be keeping an eye on the forecasts for the coming seven days as there are a lot of horses entered but it all depends what the ground is like.
Starting off what could be a busy week are Emmeline Pankhurst (Brighton) and Spirit of Sharjah (Windsor). The latter is in a tough race but the owner insisted on running him. He's in at York later in the week and I think the ground will suit him better there. Emmeline has been very disappointing so we are trying a pair of blinkers on her as she has ability but doesn't like to show it. Hopefully she can surprise me at a course we have a lot of success at.
Tuesday sees Sail Home and Sancho Panza travel to Yarmouth. Both ideally want a bit of cut in the ground but they're in great form and the races look winnable so I'll let them take their chances.
As mentioned, Spirit is in at York on Thursday along with Blackmore and Night Orbit in the staying race. If it's firm I'll only send Orbit but it looks like there will be a bit of dig so hopefully we'll have the two. At the weights I couldn't say which one would beat the other but they both have a great chance of success plus it looks like we can have champion jockey Paul Hanagan aboard Blackmore again.
We're back at York the following day with last week's winners Emma's Gift and Red Hearts in a pair of listed races. They both want the ground rock hard though so we'll have to wait and see if it is worth running.
I hope you all saw the Racing Post today (page 19) as there was a nice feature with Emma's Gift's owner, Emma Raffin, about how she came to acquire the filly and the joy success has brought her. It's nice to know that the owners are having a great time and getting plenty out of the experience.
Three to Follow Update
With only King Columbo running and finishing 5th last week, the leader board is as before.
nce again, we sent some of our staff to run but sadly couldn't field a team of three as Adam was riding at Ffos Las. He couldn't have been further away even if he tried! However, Ross finished 7th and Shelley 88th (both pictured at the front in green shirts) out of 200-odd runners (including The Stig) and both recorded times quicker than last year so it was a good performance all round.The rain does seem to be easing its way into things though and places around the country have been drenched but Newmarket remains a barren landscape - we had a sprinkle this morning but nothing significant for at least a month now.
We'll be keeping an eye on the forecasts for the coming seven days as there are a lot of horses entered but it all depends what the ground is like.
Starting off what could be a busy week are Emmeline Pankhurst (Brighton) and Spirit of Sharjah (Windsor). The latter is in a tough race but the owner insisted on running him. He's in at York later in the week and I think the ground will suit him better there. Emmeline has been very disappointing so we are trying a pair of blinkers on her as she has ability but doesn't like to show it. Hopefully she can surprise me at a course we have a lot of success at.
Tuesday sees Sail Home and Sancho Panza travel to Yarmouth. Both ideally want a bit of cut in the ground but they're in great form and the races look winnable so I'll let them take their chances.
As mentioned, Spirit is in at York on Thursday along with Blackmore and Night Orbit in the staying race. If it's firm I'll only send Orbit but it looks like there will be a bit of dig so hopefully we'll have the two. At the weights I couldn't say which one would beat the other but they both have a great chance of success plus it looks like we can have champion jockey Paul Hanagan aboard Blackmore again.
We're back at York the following day with last week's winners Emma's Gift and Red Hearts in a pair of listed races. They both want the ground rock hard though so we'll have to wait and see if it is worth running.
I hope you all saw the Racing Post today (page 19) as there was a nice feature with Emma's Gift's owner, Emma Raffin, about how she came to acquire the filly and the joy success has brought her. It's nice to know that the owners are having a great time and getting plenty out of the experience.
Three to Follow Update
With only King Columbo running and finishing 5th last week, the leader board is as before.
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