Monthly Archives: September 2020

Tanqeeb has been very disappointing. I'm stepping him up in trip today but I'm not sure that will work. I'm hoping we'll see something better from him today.

Bellazarda is a lovely filly by Bellado. She ran a highly-promising third on debut at Newmarket and this looks a much easier assignment. Great chance.

Harlow ran well last time at Sandown. He's nicely drawn in two and as long as his rider, who claims 7lb, can settle him, he must have a great chance off this mark.

Sir Benedict won nicely at Sandown but it will be tough today with his penalty. Also he is tackling an extra furlong on a different track and a faster surface, so will do well to supplement that success.

Restorer is getting rather high in the handicap, but has run some nice races recently. He has run well around here in the past and will have his chance.

Always Resolute has a nice draw and has fallen to a competitive mark. We're taking 7lb off his back and that could bring him right into the argument.

We have no fears about The Grand Visir staying this marathon trip on this galloping track. He comes here after a light season with two excellent placed runs to his credit at big Festival meetings. Should run his usual solid race and could be the one to beat.

Geranium is up against it here with a host of three-year-olds in the line-up. She won so well two runs back over course and distance that she went up 8lb. She will have suitable ground, on the fast side of good, but if she makes the first three she will have run well.

I made a mistake running Mojandil at Chelmsford. That track proved much too sharp and a repetition of his debut third at Chepstow would probably be good enough to win this nursery.

Raaeq ran a blinder first time back after a lay-off over this course and distance last month. He has been impressing at home since then and should be hard to beat.

Affair deserves a change of luck after her two near misses at Lingfield and Bath. Angus Villiers takes off a valuable 5lb and hopefully that will do the trick.

Lilkian had been in a bit of a trough before Mollie Presland won on him over seven furlongs here last month. He built on that quite impressively at Wolverhampton but is now 11lb higher overall, so we're taking the 7lb off again. Hopefully he's still in the same form in which case he should go…

Wild Flower ran very well on her stable debut at Kempton yesterday, finishing a good third. Her new owners live in Wales so we're taking the opportunity to run her nearby at the same time as taking Sepahi home for a break after a busy spell. Wild Flower ate up and trotted up sound this…

Vinnie The Hoddie put in a much-improved performance around here recently, going clear with three others in a very good handicap chase before lack of condition told late on in his seasonal debut. I'm hoping the race isn't coming too soon, as a repetition of the last effort would be good enough to make him…

So far we've thought Stormin Norman would be ideally suited by better ground and if this race was at Ayr or Musselburgh on soft going we'd be pulling him out. There's still a chance he might be all right on it down the road at Catterick, so he'll be doing his best. Great chance 1f…

We are very hopeful about Long Stay. He goes really well and is fit and ready for this stable debut.

Cheltenham De Vaige has been upped in grade as he has risen in the handicap for his two wins. We're giving him another chance over this course and distance in a novice handicap so this will be interesting and we're hopeful of a place.

We had to run Dariya unpenalised after her easy win in a seller at Stratford on Saturday. She was up for auction afterwards and while it was possibly surprising there wasn't a bid, there was no-one there to make one! She has been raised 10lb by the handicapper, so I hope he's right.

Courtandbould remains in great form. He was only beaten last time because of a double penalty and that situation could well happen today. We may have to be satisfied with a place again.

Clearly after three wins in a row, always confounding our fears about his attitude, Jamacho owes us nothing. This is another step up in class so can he do it? Probably not, but you never know with him!