Hunting Easter Winners

Well, we went to Yarmouth on Easter Monday with 6 runners in the hope that at least one could come home in front and, despite having to wait until the last one, we luckily did hit the target.

The Yarmouth Six ready for action

The day kicked off with two great runs from Handheld and Silver Alliance who went head to head in a mile handicap. There isn't much between them at home and there was only a neck between them on the track as Handheld just nicked 3rd from Silver on the line. Both horses seem really happy at the moment and hopefully a win won't be too far off.

Next up we had another match race with Khajaaly and Automotive. The race was a disaster from the start for the latter as his jockey didn't seem to be getting on very well with 'Mo' who can be a bit difficult. He then missed the break by 10 lengths at the start so I gave up all hope but he ran on really well at the finish to end up 7th. This was his first go on turf for us and I think he's one to watch.
Khajaaly bounced right back to form to finish 3rd. He's well handicapped on the grass so can hopefully win soon.

Vastly was probably our best chance of the day in the maiden but jockey Ryan Moore said he hated the track and didn't show his best to finish 4th. The horse will now get a handicap mark and I think he's more than capable of winning on the all-weather.

Last but not least was the ever-reliable The Ducking Stool. She seems to love the seaside air at Yarmouth and bounced right back to her best to get on top in a tight finish. I was screaming her home and ended up with a sore throat but it was well worth it particularly as her owner, Tolly McGuinness, is very ill in hospital at the moment. The victory cheered him right up.


I've been at full stretch recently, driving the horsebox and riding out, but luckily my slave labour (in the form of my son Ross) has returned from his winter in Dubai and is back working in the yard.
He's been living the high-life in the desert so I've brought him right back to earth with mucking out duties and a trip to Lingfield on Saturday.

From 30s to frost: Ross

As we're now well staffed I can enjoy watching the work from the ground and also get some good snaps of all the gallops. However, there is some rivalry in this respect as Newmarket has its own snapper in Michael Smithson - the town's biggest fan and a massive supporter of flat racing. He had time to get a shot of me and I can happily say he's far better than me - as his shots below prove!

Framing Feilden

As we had a lot of runners in the week, Saturday was a great chance to give some of the comeback kids a spin on the Cambridge Road.
First up were Sancho Panza and No Such Number. Sancho has come back from a tendon injury in flying form. He has strengthened right up and is in great spirits. This was his first bit of work so may be hitting the track in about a month.
Number is on a similar schedule after his winter break and he too is in fine fettle. He is a real character and only does enough at home but I really hope he could be an exciting stayer on firm ground.

No Such Number (Ross) & Sancho Panza (Annelie)
 

Omega Omega didn't show much form last season but she was a big and weak filly. The winter off has seen her thrive and she is so much stronger now. The way she is going at home suggests she should be well capable of winning off her low handicap mark when hitting the track in three weeks time.

Omega Omega (Shelley)

Attain lost his way badly at the end of last season so we gave him the winter off to freshen up. He's a different horse now and is flying up the gallops. He's very well handicapped too so hopefully could have a good season in store.

Attain (Alfie)

Amelia George didn't come to us until late last year and she is still quite a weak three-year old. She'll be running soon though and the experience will do her good.

 

 

We've got four runners on four different days this week but, remarkably, they're all at Kempton.

On Monday, Tiger's Home is looking to follow up her great seasonal reappearance at the track. She went up 2lb for finishing second last time but she should be a fair bit sharper now and if she can put in a similar effort, shouldn't be too far away.

 

Handheld seems to love going racing and he's out again on Wednesday. It's a race for apprentices who have ridden less than 10 winners only so I think we've got a good rider in Shelley Birkett. The horse seems to prefer the turf but with a lack of races, he has to come onto the all-weather.

 

Another who that comment probably applies to is Automotive the following day. Having said that, some of his best efforts have come at Kempton so I hope if everything goes to plan, he could be thereabouts.

 

Last of all on Saturday is Chilli Green. It's her first run for us but she's shown some great form for other trainers. It will be a tough task for her in a listed race but this is very much a learning experience and we will know a lot more about her afterwards.