Bright week ahead

We have got runners almost every day next week and a few good chances I hope. Tomorrow Silver Alliance and Handheld run at Wolverhampton, Silver is in great form and has been unlucky not to have won a race this year but he is running over his ideal trip at a track he has good form at. Then 'Andy' makes his debut for us, he was once a good 2-year-old but has come down in the weights now and was running well on the all-weather for his previous trainer, I think the change of scenery has done him good but it will be interesting to see how he runs. The next day at Lingfield Automotive makes his return to the track, he had us all scratching our heads last year as he put in a few disappointing runs, but since then I think he is a changed horse as he is not as quirky as before, he has been working with our Listed horse Spirit of Sharjah and been giving him a good run for his money.

Two fillies also run this week which have also been a little disappointing of late. Emma's Gift runs on Wednesday at Lingfield, she was once a top class filly but her confidence is at an all time low as she keeps running against good horses who just come past her, we will leave the headgear at home this time to hopefully let her enjoy it again and try to eek out her ability. The next day Lea Valley also travels to Lingfield, she is lightly raced but still a maiden. She works really well at home but gets quite buzzed up at the races, hopefully the penny is starting to drop with her and she can get competitive. Also at the same venue that day is Kampai, she finally broke her maiden tag the time before last and you can probably forget about her last run as she was too far off the pace, another sound run is expected.

With all the grass gallops now closed for the winter the Cambridge Road polytrack is the place to be. Here we have new boy Vastly (grey) doing his first bit of work with the returning The Ducking Stool. The former is a lovely un-raced colt by Mizzen Mast, he is a chunk of a horse with a bright future ahead of him as he worked impressively with this years stable star, shares are still available in him. 'Ducky' has just had a bit of time off after a fruitful turf campaign and it won't be long until she is racing again, she will have a run on the all-weather and then we may look to give her a try over hurdles. 

On Saturday a horse that has raised my profile over the last 6 years will be running. Spirit of Sharjah worked on his own on Saturday with myself aboard and I was blown away by him as ever. He always works so well and has so much power in his hind quarters. He runs on Saturday after time off since his stint in Dubai last winter, I hope he will still be running up to form as he is really showing encouraging signs at home.



Next weeks runners Emma's Gift (grey) and Lea Valley (middle)

Only the two runners over the last few days but they both ran with credit. Sail Home and Exopuntia both ran at Lingfield on Wednesday and both were agonisingly beat in photo finishes. A nose was all it was and we were announced as finishing fourth, just out of the winners enclosure but more importantly just out of the prize money. Although I am pleased with their runs and we will hopefully have fun this winter with them.