Irish Raiding Party

Matuhi is our other runner in the Plate and he too boasts some excellent handicap form, having won twice for us last season at Ascot and Haydock, while also performing creditably when sixth at the Cheltenham Festival. Hadden Frost was on board when winning last time out, and while he is 7lbs higher in the weights he has a nice racing weight of 10-7. He has been prepared with this in mind for some time and I could see him going well. Hadden will be in the saddle once again.

Street Entertainer has also travelled across to the Emerald Isle and my first Irish winner is an intended runner in the Galway Hurdle on the Thursday. He ran a fine race under top-weight to be beaten little over 2 lengths in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen last time out and while this is a step-up in class, he will find himself at the opposite end of the handicap. Conor O’Farrell, who was successful on him at Chepstow on Grand National day, will take the ride.

It is not long now until the “Duel on the Downs” and I will be watching intently from a vantage place somewhere at Galway. Although there are only four runners, the big two, Frankel and Canford Cliffs have stood their ground and I hope that they both give their running and there are no hard luck stories. Personally, I am a huge Canford Cliffs fan and he produced a devastating turn of speed to cut down Rip Van Winkle in last year’s renewal. Add to that, jockey Richard Hughes rides Goodwood as well as any other jockey I can think of, and with the extra year under Canford Cliff’s belt, he will get my vote on Wednesday.

We will have our own runner, Raslan at Goodwood on the day. Fortunately he will not be taking on Frankel or Canford Cliffs, but will instead be competing in the handicap over the marathon trip of 2m5f. Junior finished runner-up in the race last season and he will be attempting to go one better for us – leading conditional Adam Beschizza has been booked for the mount and will take a handy 3lbs off his back.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will have three runners over the sticks at Worcester: American Art, Very Cool and the hat-trick seeking Laustra Bad who is back after his summer break. Champion jockey A P McCoy will ride the first two, while Conor will bid to continue his successful association with Laustra Bad. We also have entries at Stratford on Thursday, Bangor on Friday and Market Rasen on Sunday so it looks like being a busy old time!