Horses for Sale
Kingston Queen (IRE)
1 Share Remaining
Click here for details
Tuxedo Junction (GB)
Exciting Dual Purpose Prospect
Click here for details
- Thursday, 21 January 2021 08:03
- Written by G Edwards
Little Red Lion Winner at Chepstow
Little Red Lion loves the mud but it is fair to say it was perhaps a performance full of heart and bravery that got him over the line to win again at Chepstow yesterday. While the track passed it's morning inspection the ground was very heavy and in fact was the lowest recorded reading on a going stick at any racetrack this season. Apparently it read 2.5 which is worse than was recorded at Lingfield where they had the previously lowest figure - I am not sure what the figures really mean but it did look hard work watching on the telly! Little Red Lion returned to hurdles for a confidence booster after falling at Wetherby last time. He actually jumps fences very well and was a little unlucky last time but it was nice to be able to take advantage of a five pounds lower hurdle rating. The blinkers were added to help him travel in the early part of the race as he can sometimes be a little lazy but they worked a treat and Fergus gave him a great ride, tackling the leader after the third last and having a sustained battle all the way up the home straight. A good jump at the last sealed the deal and he was always just doing enough up the run in - he is one that is never going to win by too far which is good from a handicapping point of view!
The good news is that Little Red Lion and all our runners from yesterday are fine this morning. It was a fantastic win for the David Pipe Racing Club and it is heart warming to receive all the message of congratulations for him. He has now won all of his completed starts since March 2020! He will now have an easy time before I know David has got his eye on a nice race back over fences next month!
First Lord Du Cuet ran another fine race to finish second at Chepstow yesterday. While a bit frustrating not to have got his head in front yet this season he always runs a solid race and has not finished out of the frame in any of his starts. He has plenty of ability and there is a nice prize in him. We made Red Lion Lad non-runner at Chepstow yesterday because of the ground and he will be out on the race track again fairly soon. Meanwhile at Newbury Panic Attack did not show her true colours and ran disappointingly. While a reason has not come to light apart from she maybe did not like the ground, the main thing is she is okay this morning. We know she is much better than this and hopefully and we are sure she can bounce back to form next time.
Looking ahead to day it is great that both jumps meetings at Ludlow and Wincanton have passed their inspections and racing goes ahead. We have just one runner today, Brinkley who runs in the 2,20pm handicap hurdle at Wincanton with Tom Scu on board. He has to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal reappearance at Exeter last time but he is in good form at home and won't mind conditions which are again going to be very testing. A return to a flatter track should suit and fingers crossed he should run well in the colours of owners Brocade racing.
I hope everyone survived storm Christoph last night, it was very windy and we had 14mm of rain at Pond House but it appears we might have escaped lightly compared to some places. Take care and stay safe everyone.