Enjoying a nice surprise

Racing throws lots of surprises at you but unfortunately most of them aren't that good with horses getting injured and things going against you but, luckily for us, we were in for a nice surprise this week as Silver Alliance defied a career-high handicap mark to win at Yarmouth on Tuesday. You'd be forgiven for thinking he would struggle for a while to win after such a great 2013 with three victories but the old boy found another gear to win with a bit in hand. Hopefully he can surprise us some more soon.

Silver Alliance & Shelley Birkett win at Yarmouth

 

As I said last week, there are definite signs that the horses are getting into top form now and I hope they can show their well being on the track this week. We won't be at the races until Friday though when Tiger's Home and Attain head to Brighton.
Attain has run well at the track before but does need soft ground to show his best. He can run well on firm going too though so he should be in with a shout.
Tiger's Home has tonnes of ability but hasn't shown it as often as I'd like. She did win at Bath last season but disappointed us last time. Hopefully she can bounce back and show us what she has really got at a track which can get the best out of some tricky horses.

Tiger's Home (Shelley) & Attain (Graham)

 

Also entered on Friday is Avidly at Newmarket. She is also in at Nottingham on Sunday though and we will go where ever the firmer ground is. Her last run was a definite step in the right direction and I think we're beginning to get a handle on her as she is not completely straightforward. The handicapper has given her a real chance too and I think she is more than capable of winning off her current mark.

Avidly (Ross)

 

Luhaif is another who has tumbled down the handicap so hopefully he can shows his best at York on Saturday. He was a very good two-year old but his peers have caught up with him now and he isn't top of the class but he still has plenty of ability and still has a big race in him when things fall right.

Automotive (Reno) & Luhaif (Ross)

 

Meddling was going to hit the track again this week for the first time since she won but her back was a little out and the physio needed to give her a good massage so it's best to give her a bit more time. She is flying at home since the win and certainly seems to know she got her head in front. There is still a lot more to come from her this year.

Meddling (Shelley)

 

I was a bit angry about the rating the handicapper gave No Such Number as I think 115 is a tad high on what he has shown so far. Having said that, after arguing with the man, he said he was going to give him a mark of 125 before his last run so it could have been worse. There is a nice race for him early next month back at Southwell - the track he won at on his hurdles debut last year.

No Such Number (Reno)

 

Bethan (Danny) & Opus Too (Ryan)

 

Candesta was castrated two weeks ago and he has come out of the operation fine and is back to doing normal canters now. Hopefully it will get his mind back on the job and he can recapture the early promise he has shown.

Candesta (Reno)

 

Celestine Abbey made an encouraging racecourse debut a few weeks ago and she was our first juvenile runner of the year so it gives us a marker for the rest in the yard. Duke Of Diamonds did his first serious gallop on Saturday and, although he was very green, he still showed plenty. He'll probably run in a seven furlong maiden and they don't start for a while so there's plenty of time still  to get him race-ready.

Duke of Diamonds (Graham) & Bushy Glade (Adam)

 

THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE
Although it didn't effect the leader board too much, Silver Alliance's win has put plenty of players into contention and just off the lead. Still in front with 11 points are: Geoff Walton, Stephen Broadley, Linda Wright and Rob Wright.