Yearly Archives: 2020

Ocean Drifter won a point-to-point before joining us and finished a creditable third in a decent bumper at Hereford on his only outing since. He schools very well at home, being sharp and economical over his hurdles. He can be pretty keen so I'm starting him over the minimum trip today. He will want further…

With Promise has had a few chances and I'm turning to headgear again to try to convince him to show what he does at home. I'm not sure he can be totally relied upon so best watched today.

Curtiz has disappointed us a couple of times lately so we're trying back here where he ran his best race. He was just touched off on his last run as a two-year-old and a repetition of that would probably be good enough to take this handicap.

Talk Of Fame showed promise in his bumper but seemed to become stage-struck when he ran over hurdles at Warwick. If he can put that run behind him he should be placed.

Zayriyan has still to win after 29 attempts but he came close on this track back in February when beaten half a length over ten furlongs. This shorter trip is no problem and Tom Marquand is a plus, however the outside draw must be a negative around here.

There was still plenty of room for improvement in Stoner's Choice's jumping at Perth but he won well despite that. There is much more ability left in his locker and we are confident he can defy his penalty.

Peking Rose is a lovely type who goes well and has a host of bumper winners in her immediate family. There are several extremely well-bred horses in opposition to her, but it is safe to say she has at least an each-way chance.

Mrs Fitzherbert, a daughter of Kingman, goes nicely on the gallops. She will undoubtedly benefit from the experience.

Shantou Vow seems to have matured both mentally and physically now. We are excited to see what he can do now he is going up in trip.

Ask A Honey Bee had a brilliant first season in bumpers and resumes for his hurdling career in good form. We think a lot of him and expect him to go very close on debut.

Anemoi has been off the track for a long time so we are looking forward to getting him started again. He is an extremely talented horse who resumes handicapping with a chance as he's been dropped 7lb for this comeback.

Acquisitor is a nice two-year-old who has had a couple of decent runs at Bath previously. Fingers crossed he can run well first time on all-weather. It would be nice if he was the horse to get Hollie Doyle her record score.

Just A Sip has come on for her latest run. She is in new ownership now - my wife loves her! We expect her to put in a much stronger finish today.

This is first time in a handicap for Ros's Dream. She's stepping up in trip and this is not a great race, so we will see how we get on.

Oscar Rose took to fences very well in a highly-competitive handicap chase at Uttoxeter. This race suits her in all ways and off the same mark she should win this on that form.

Spangler, a half-brother to Kipps, has shown promise. He will learn plenty from this debut and one more run after this, probably on all-weather, will probably do for his season.

We are expecting a big step up in form for Champagne Noir dropped back to two and a half miles. I think he will be a considerably better chaser than hurdler.

Wild Flower lost her chance at the start at Bath when stumbling badly, but won well at Yarmouth and Chepstow before that. She goes well on soft and is worth a try on today's heavy ground. If she gets away on terms she could go very close.

Whitehaven won at Lingfield and didn't run too badly afterwards at Kempton. We're not going there today expecting to win, but are quite hopeful he'll make the frame.

Lleyton is a new arrival in the yard, having been running recently over jumps for Justin Landy, appearing not to see out the trip. A two-mile winner on the Flat in Ireland last year, he has a turn of foot and the Wolverhampton track should suit him. Small each-way chance.