Enjoyin' The Barbie

Shamefully for the first time this year, despite already having some great weather, we blew the dust off the barbecue and had our first dinner alfresco this week.
And why not after what had been a decent enough week, kick started on Monday with a big priced each-way double at Pontefract.

Regular readers would have remembered me saying in last week's post that I was pretty confident of Entrance and Generous Genella getting a place and they both finished third - at prices of 14/1 and 33/1 respectably.
Entrance was unlucky not to win really after missing the break and then finding herself with a wall of horses in front of her two furlongs from home. When she did get the splits, she flew home to almost grab second.

I was relieved that Genella had finally shown some form after disappointing for so long. She has loads of ability but hadn't shown it until now and we've found the key to her is a tongue strap to help her breathing. I must say thank you to her owners for being so patient as she has let them down numerous times but I'm pretty certain that she will win very soon.

Talking of fantastic owners, Dick Creese's filly Red Hearts ran another game race to finish fourth at Warwick on Friday. She was trying seven furlongs for the first time and didn't quite stay the distance. We'll probably drop her down in class to a seller next time as she's good enough to win one and is only a small two year old so probably doesn't have much improvement left in her. That said, she has won a maiden race already as well as the £10,000 Racing Post bonus that goes with it. She has more than paid her way.

The only disappointment of the week was Sail Home at Yarmouth on Thursday. Conditions seemed ideal for her but she found little in the finish. I think that at this time of year, three year olds in handicaps have such a weight for age advantage that older horses like Sail Home are finding it tough. This was demonstrated by the fact that most of the horses which beat her were three year olds. She will be back to form soon though, no doubt.

Hopefully the same comment can apply to Khajaaly when he goes to Brighton tomorrow. He didn't have much luck last time at Warwick and I feel if he handles the unique track, he'll go very close. There are five previous course winners in the race so he will have to be 100% happy on the course to run his best.

Premier League is becoming a bit of a course specialist himself - at Southwell. He's there on Tuesday and he should be in with a shout at the only track where he has won before. Pyjoma makes her handicap debut there as well and I think she's got a nice handicap. The major factor is whether she'll like the bad kickback that goes with racing at Southwell. With both of them, I hope I can get a winner - it will be my birthday after all!

If not then, I'm hopeful Entrance will get us a winner two days later at Folkestone. As already mentioned, she's in top form and I think she will be hard to beat. Also that day, Sand Repeal makes his reappearance after a year off the track. He had a tendon injury that has been doing really well since his return. He is in his usual bouncy mood but he always needs a run to get into tip-top shape.



Three To Follow Update

Entrance and Generous Genella both clocked a few points with their third places and it has strengthened Richard Salmon's lead.

1st - Richard Salmon (41 points)
2nd - Peter Darlington (36 points)
3rd - Shelley Birkett (34 points)
4th - Adam Beschizza (31 points)
5th - Martyn Clark & Maureen Youngs (28 points)

One other on 25 points, 4 on 23, 1 on 21, 3 on 18, 10 on 15, 2 on 13, 3 on 8, 1 on 5 and one person on three points.