Monthly Archives: April 2021

The Retriever does well on Southwell's Fibresand and has run three good races there this year after a course and distance victory in November. The handicapper seems to have just about got his measure but hopefully today from a good draw he can give our promising 7lb claiming apprentice Aiden Brookes a decent chance of…

I had Surrey Gold primed for a run on the Flat but then the drought started and the ground everywhere was too firm. So we decided to cut and run to the all-weather and ironically we got half an inch of unpredicted rain here yesterday and another inch is forecast for Bank Holiday Monday. The…

Mandoob has been a late developer but he goes nicely and we took him down to Lingfield for a barrier trial a few weeks ago and he pleased me. The front two in the betting have useful form and the benefit of experience but we're not going there just to make the numbers up.

The Resdev Way will be ridden I expect with more restraint. He had experience of the course with his previous trainer and I'm sure he'll handle it as it's not too dissimilar from what he trains on at Middleham. I'm not expecting either to win but both should be thereabouts at the finish. That said,…

King Of Clubs has the greater experience of our two runners and drops back in trip after his fifth over ten furlongs last time. He hasn't taken either of his races too well so we've given him time since his latest. He may just need the run but would probably be competitive if he does…

We like Stay Well. He had some issues after his nice Doncaster run last autumn. We've been happy with his progress this spring although thanks to the very dry spell I've not done as much as I would have liked on grass but overall it would be very disappointing if he didn't win today.

Gauntlet was bought out of Aidan O'Brien's yard. He's a Galileo half-brother to Arc winner Danedream and goes nicely. Obviously the favourite brings decent form to the table so it will be interesting to see where we fit in conceding so much weight to the three-year-olds.

Sundays are no longer quiet for trainers. Three runners today at Salisbury and declarations for the five meetings on Tuesday and all the difficulties that entails with trying to book suitable jockeys now they no longer can ride at more than one meeting a day. What we do mostly is just wait for the agents…

Haymaker is a nice colt by Muhaarar who cost 40k - not 4,000 as the Racing Post suggests! Unlike most of these I suspect, he's neither had a run - two have - nor been for a visit to a racecourse for a barrier trial so he'll be green as grass. A nice one for…

Lordsbridge Boy has joined us this year and has some very interesting form in the book from his previous stable. He's fit and in good nick so we're hopeful of a nice start in this handicap.

It seems as though age is starting to catch up on Byron Flyer. On his recent form it's hard to give him much chance and the 66-1 the bookies are offering is understandable.

This race two years ago was the last Younevercall won - Covid stopped last year's fixture -  and he comes into it in cracking form. I think he has an excellent chance of winning it again with everything, track, ground and trip all in his favour. We need what has been a very good season…

El Presente has had a great season and his prep race at Ludlow has put him spot on for today. It is seriously annoying that the weights have shot up. His original 10st4lb would have been ideal but 11st9lb is definitely not as he is a small horse. He will do well to be placed,…

Buxted Too was certainly progressive in his three runs on all-weather, winning nicely at Chelmsford. The Esher Cup is a big step up but you may as well try them in a 25 grand race to find out how good they are. The favourite is out so I think 25-1 each way is great value.

This home-bred mare has taken her time to come together and she is finally getting there. Tonight will be a bit of a shock for her and providing she handles the faster pace and understands that racing is now her job, she should run well. Place chances.

Shaws Bridge made a promising start for the stable when not beaten far at Carlisle in a race run on the inside hurdles track where the uphull finish is more marked than the outer. He didn't get a great run up the far rail and today, off 2lb lower and hopefully better for the run,…

I reckon I've expected Ernesto to win a good few of his races and he simply hasn't come through. He's down at bargain basement level tonight considering his ability and while I very much think he should get his head in front it's hard to be over-confident that he will.

Kajaki didn't run too badly at Haydock last time when he needed it a shade. He will be straighter today and has a decent each-way chance. After that we'll keep him going in the summer when he should pick up a race or two at Cartmel and small tracks like that.

I expect Unai to run very well.This time we'll be making much more use of him from the front in which case he'll be very hard to peg back. Big chance.

Ordered Lives won well at Ludlow last time, but now has a penalty to contend with. Liam's 5lb claim largely addresses that but fellow recent winner Tonyx may be hard to beat.