Yearly Archives: 2023

Dom Perry has been with us for a couple of weeks. He was a bumper winner two years ago  but I'll be surprised if he's ready to win today.

We took Ardmayle out of a race the other day when the ground looked pretty rough. It's good going today and he would probably prefer a little more dig, but he's a course and distance winner and hopefully will run a good race.

Blue Bikini returns after a nine-month layoff. She is probably best watched today in this wide-open handicap hurdle.

This Listed mares' race promises to be an exciting affair and Dysart Enos, who was 2nd in her only point-to-point in Ireland, impressively won a 15-runner novice on stable debut at Ludlow. Queens Gamble is clearly the one to beat but we will be giving it our best shot.

Mikhailovich will hopefully be suited by the better ground. He needs to get back on track and will be one for handicaps further down the line.

Applaus usually runs well here but the ground is probably not as soft as he prefers. I doubt he will repeat his win of last time, and am expecting him to finish between 3rd and 5th. Hope I'm wrong.

Dancila was rated 88 when a multiple winner on the flat in Ireland with Jim Bolger. We bought him at the HIT sale last October and he has been promising in his schooling sessions. We are looking forward to this jumps debut. Interesting.

Snowy Cloud has made a good start to chasing, winning on debut and then third around here in the fog next time. There looks to be plenty of pace on but he'll be at the front and hopefully will stay there.

Buxted Too has been in much better form lately and was very professional staying on well to win at Kempton last time. The 3lb rise in his mark is fair enough and on a track that should should suit him, he can follow up off top-weight.

Our likeliest winner today is Trac who was beaten by a progressive horse in Bolsover Bill here last time. The drying ground is the worry for him but we can watch the first race and decide after that.  

With Respect has plenty of natural ability and it's probably the after-thought of his earlier injury problems that are holding him back. If he could run to his true level he would win this easily, but so far he has not been finishing off his races. We have to hope the first-time tongue-tie helps in…

Renardeau has been off for a long time with an injury but he retains plenty of ability. He will probably need the run but should be ready to resume his winning ways before long.

Gauntlet has been off for almost 18 months but he has done plenty of work and should be fit enough to run well. He's never won a race but the ability is there and hopefully he can put in a good run to offer promise for the rest of the year.

We will only run Tip Top Cat if the ground is suitable and I am pessimistic that will be the case. If he does run I am not sure he will be tough enough to handle this grade.

Lordsbridge Girl came good last time at Kempton and while she likes that track there's no reason why she shouldn't handle it around here. She has a good draw and Jamie back on board is a positive. Big chance off only 3lb higher.

Useful on the flat in France, Greyval needed the experience when 2nd on debut over hurdles here last month. The winner of that race has won again since and she is once more the obvious threat as she goes unpenalised under the race conditions. Hopeful of turning the form around just the same.

Storminhome has run well both times for us and I think he'll improve a ton on his latest run when third over slightly further around here. Will take a lot of beating.

Belle Na Bann ran a promising race first time for the stable over course and distance on New Year's Day. A repetition of that run should enable her to go very close in what looks a slightly easier assignment.

I'm pretty much forced to run Liberated Lad again, back at Southwell where he looked so impressive on Friday, and ignoring the moderate effort at Newcastle on Sunday. I knew he would be going up a lot for that wide-margin win - his jockey got rather excited I'm afraid! - and the 5lb penalty compared…