Down about the Yarmouth undulations

First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who made the effort to pay us a visit as part of Newmarket Open Day today as we welcomed more people than ever before through the gates and it was fantastic to see plenty of faces, old and new. Thanks to all who contributed to the selection of savouries and cakes, there was a massive spread and all of it got eaten! I didn't get to see any other part of the town but I hope the day was another resounding success as it is great to give the public a look behind the usually closed doors of training yards, although our policy is rather different as anybody is allowed to visit any day of the year. If you missed it, make sure you come soon!

We had a few runners at Yarmouth this week as the track held its last meeting before closing for repair work to the home straight. It is set to race again next June. Some jockeys had complained that there were ridges in the home straight which got horses unbalanced. I am really disappointed that the track has shut down just for some unnecessary work. The undulations are part of the track's idiosyncrasies and you have to be able to handle them to win at the course. Will the repairs mean some of our course specialists won't be as effective at the place? Only time will tell. It just seems that the track has bowed down to the complaints of a select view when the vast majority of us are happy with how things are. What next? Will they level Tattenham Corner at Epsom because it's too steep?!

 

Hopefully all the visitors left a little more enlightened as to how a training yard works and hopefully we sent you off with a winner or two. First to the plate is Avidly at Lingfield on Tuesday. She has come back from her break in good form and I thought she'd run better at Yarmouth last time but it just may have been that she need the run fitness-wise. She has form at the track so hopefully a return there can bring her back to life as she has plenty of ability.

Avidly (Ross)

 

There's a wait until Friday before our next runner as Automotive is entered at Haydock. He ran a blinder when second at Goodwood last time and he has come out of the race well. He has course and distance form so, despite the race looking quite competitive, he should make the trip north worthwhile.
Handheld loves soft ground so he hasn't been out since winning in August but hopefully the wait will be worthwhile as he is set for Nottingham early next month. He has won at the course and it's quite a valuable race so we need to be doing a rain dance!

Handheld (Ryan) & Automotive (Ross)

 

Meddling is still a pretty unexposed horse and she showed us a glimpse of her ability when scoring at Lingfield earlier in the year. She had some trouble with her back muscles after that so we gave her a break to strengthen up and she has returned a much bigger and muscular horse. She did her first fast piece of work on Saturday so, all being well, she should be ready for the track in three weeks' time.

Meddling (Shelley)

 

Sadiigah (Danny)

THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE

Placings from the prolific The Ducking Stool and maiden points scorer Previous Acclaim have seen some movement in the rankings.
Now sharing the lead with 28 points are Harry Hurst and Sophie Feilden. Closely following on 27 is Mark Henry with Sophie Collington on 26 points.