Weekend Action

                 I'llletyougonow

Today we have a quick update on stable runners and what has been happening in the racing world this week.  It will be great to have some high class action from Newmarket to watch this afternoon as well as racing from Lingfield and Newcastle as well.  The big race of the day is the Qipco 2000 Guineas which goes off at 3.35pm.  Pinatubo heads a high class field and they look to have it all to do to beat him if he returns in the same scintillating form he showed last season in the Godolphin blue colours with William Buick on board.  You would think Arizona is the best of the Aidan O’Brien team with Ryan Moore in the saddle but this is not always the case from this stable and it will be a fascinating watch.

We have our next runner in action tomorrow at Haydock.  I’lletyougonow runs in the 5.35pm handicap over 1m2f with Silvestre De Sousa riding.  She is having only her second start for the yard but she is a winner on the level having won at Windsor when in the care of Mick Channon.  Silvestre was on board this day so it is great to have secured his services again tomorrow.  She came to Pond House to embark on a novice hurdling career and while she did finish fourth on debut at Warwick (her one and only start so far) with everything that has happened David decided she would have a run or two back on the flat before returning to hurdles when jumping is back.  She is going nicely and home and while she is stepping up a bit in trip she appears from her runs previously and her work at home that this will be within reach and hopefully will bring about some improvement.

We also have a runner at Lingfield on Monday evening.  Malangen is making his flat debut for the yard in the 7.50pm 1m4f handicap.  David bought him after he won a seller at Leicester in August 2018 on only his second ever start for Brian Meehan and then he has been hurdling and chasing since.  He has won three hurdle races and a chase as well as being placed on several occasions.  He runs off a mark of 62 which looks fair enough and in form jockey Rossa Ryan has his first ride for the yard.   There are no further entries from the stable as yet for later in the week but keeping checking back here for more news of stable plans. 

I think racing has done very well returning to action this week and everyone involved from getting it back on to making sure things sun smoothly and efficiently should be congratulated.  There has been plenty of extra paperwork and checks for trainers and staff to undertake but touch wood this has all gone well and as time progresses hopefully so of these measures can be relaxed a little.  One of the first things that could return to a little more like normality is declaration time.  At the moment, declarations are having to be made 72 hours in advance of a race, this hopefully will return to 48 hours in the near future.  While not really causing any problems, things can change quite a lot with horses in 24 hours and hopefully going forward it will mean fewer non-runners in races, although I don’t think this has been a problem so far.

Our travelling head lad Bob Hodge accompanied Teaser racing to Kempton the other day and he said the whole experience went well and there was no extra hassle or any problems caused by measures imposed at the racecourse.  Teaser was disappointing in the race but jockey Finley Marsh said that he hated the going.  The watering system at the track had not been working and so the surface rode very deep, he described it as like a ploughed field which he did not like.  We know he can do better than this and so we will look for a race on the turf next time where we know enjoys bouncing off some quicker ground. 

Have a good day everyone and enjoy the racing action.