Bert’s Horseracing Blog

A busy spell, and not a lot of success - I’m feeling a bit cursed at the moment.  I had a decent bet on Midday in the Oaks - she couldn’t have come any closer, beaten only a head after a little interference in running.  In the Derby I was on Rip Van Winkle and I needed him to come in the first three - he came fourth beaten a neck and a nose from second.  My only other bet was on Walkingonthemoon, who ran a great race before getting pipped in the dying strides.

The Derby winner looked like quality - I spent a while going through his breeding after the race, although it was pretty familiar stuff.  Urban Sea, who died last year, is amongst the greatest broodmares of our generation - not only has she produced two Derby winners (Sea the Stars and Galileo) but six other top class performers including two G1 winners from a variety of stallions.  In recent times in Europe perhaps only Height of Fashion has a record to compare with this.

I’ve had bad news on Princess Aurora, my Mr Greeley filly from America.  She has EPM, a neurological disease that doesn’t occur naturally in the UK - she’s been on a course of drugs but unfortunately she had a sudden relapse on Sunday and we’re back where we started.  It’s not great - right now there is a high likelihood that she’ll never see a racecourse.

On a positive note Veiled Beauty has been scanned in foal to Singspiel.

I have a few entries coming up.  Bea Menace goes at Chepstow tomorrow and she must have a great chance.  Earlier in the evening I’ll be backing Sweet Hollow, who could be a touch above this grade.  Tom Dascombe gets married on Saturday at 3:00, but he’ll be back at work on Monday morning - Tikka Masala goes in the 4:30 at Bath and she has a great chance of following up her win last week.