Yearly Archives: 2020

This is a tough race but Snow Leopardess showed at Haydock that she is up to a battle. She has been raised 9lb but she goes in the ground and stays so she must have her chance in a competitive affair.

Like Commanding Spirit, Trimmers Lane is a little over-faced in this and is 5lb wrong at the weights. He needs to run and hopefully this will help set him up for something more winnable in the New Year.

Timeless Beauty has pleased me on both her runs to date and she should progress again today. It's great to have Adrian back.

Shanroe Tic Tec is coming into form and when he does he usually maintains it for a few races. He should build on his good second at Market Rasen but the worry is the longer trip on this ground. Despite those concerns, he should go well.

Glimpse Of Gold is a decent mare and I'm sure she'll run a race although she probably won't be good enough as she was behind several of these at Cheltenham. I'd love her to sneak into a place.

Flirtatious Girl won well on debut at Warwick. She seems to have improved at home but this is a mighty tough race. We would be delighted to be placed or better.

Alaphilippe has done everything right since coming over from Ireland and clearly has plenty of talent. He actually finished a couple of lengths and two places (fourth to second) behind the Donald McCain horse in a point, but his rival had much more experience at that stage and Alaphilippe has changed a lot since those…

Sauce Of Life is a nice horse. I've heard they like the Crawford horse but he'll need to gallop! I don't think our lad will be far away.

Alright Sunshine wouldn't have been easy to beat - a triple bumper winner who GAVE weight to Not So Sleepy in the Cesarewitch - but he's a non-runner. That should leave the way clear for Moon King, who has been promising if not spectacular in his two hurdles and was also decent on the Flat,…

Abel Tasman remains well handicapped. He didn't get the greatest ride last time in a big field around here but has a favourite's chance to make amends today.

Not So Sleepy is Not So Sleepy. Since winning this race easily last year he's been awkward at the start twice and put the brakes on last time causing his jockey to unseat in the Fighting Fifth. He's in good form and very well and it seems odd on what we know of Buzz from…

Aldrich Bay ran very well when second at Kempton the other day. It was his first time in a handicap after more than a year off the track and he still showed signs of greenness. He should be more the finished article now and with the overnight favourite and form horse coming out, he must…

Cornerstone Lad missed his intended hurdling return in the Fighting Fifth when the ground at Newcastle went faster than ideal but conditions will be in his favour for this chasing debut. This will be his first run over jumps since his disappointing effort in the Champion Hurdle but he is fit after two runs (one…

We bought Autumn War out of Charlie Hills' yard last year appropriately at the autumn sales, but it took a year to get him on the track. After an understandably low-key start in heavy ground at Catterick he went to war with a vengeance around here last time and can follow up tonight off a…

Coo To Be A Cat finally ran well after a number of disappointments when third at Kempton two runs back but then regressed to his "normal" performance at Chelmsford. There is no doubt that if he runs to his ability he is a well-handicapped horse.

Castle Robin has gone up 7lb for his Cheltenham win and in a race as competitive as this, that will not be easy to deal with. He remains in good form though and we're hopeful this grand horse will have each-way chances.