I can’t remember a more enthralling day’s sport than yesterday’s fare. In the afternoon I watched the key bits of Ivanovic/Dechy, including a point where at match point down Ivanovic slams a forehand into the top of the net and it hovers and drops over just on the right side for her. You couldn’t write the script – she wins 10-8 …
Tariq or not Tariq
… that is the question, and in my opinion the answer is a big yes. Tariq runs in the Queen Anne, and gets the nap vote for the first day. He’s in great form and he won at this meeting last year. He’s progressive, he’ll be happy on the ground and the stable may finally have hit true form. The …
Ascot hopes
Unfortunately Winker now passes Royal Ascot – the next opportunity may be the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly next month. He worked on Wednesday with Al Qasi – he tired at the end of the gallop and blew the house down afterwards. It’s frustrating as he’s not far off full fitness, but he wasn’t quite going to get there in time. I …
A worthy winner
Derby day finally came, although the rain I’d been hoping for didn’t. It was a blow – I’d only kept Bouguereau in the race in the hope that the ground would come up on the soft side, but that wasn’t going to happen. Still a great day out beckoned. I got dressed in my fancy togs and headed off to …
The big one
Only a day away from a runner in the Derby, and although he’s a rank outsider I’m still pretty excited. The rain didn’t come for me, but there’s still a fair bit forecast and it might be enough to turn the ground at the last minute. Fingers crossed for a big run. Thoughts on the big race then; I can’t have New …
Lockinge day
No luck yesterday with King’s Head. I spoke to Gary before the race – he thought the ground was slightly on the soft side of good rather than the fast side as I had originally thought. KH will win again whan the going is fast. One runner tonight – Parisian Gift goes at Doncaster. We had a good punt on …
Fit for a King
I had hoped for three runners today but I’m down to one after the two Maxes pulled out. He’s a good one though – King’s Head runs at Aintree tonight, and if the rains stay away I see no reason why he won’t go in again. He’s fit and well. Nine days break isn’t a lot, but I don’t think …
Michel gets in
A winner on Tuesday night with Kings Head doing it nicely. We€™ve believed for a while that he is a decent hurdler in the making and it€™s good to see a little proof of that. He needs top of the ground and he doesn€™t get that often in the winter months, so he€™ll probably always be a summer horse. His …
On a decent mark
The first piece of collateral form for Bouguereau comes today with Patkai, who runs in the final race at Chester. I like him as a bet. He was staying on in the Newbury race and will surely benefit from the extra two furlongs – he may also prefer the ground today. 90 doesn’t look like too harsh a mark and the …
Collateral form
I’ve had jumpers running over the last few days with no luck In truth it’s been a pretty disappointing jumps season – some fairly expensive purchases have run poorly, the only real high point having been Mon Michel winning a few months ago. I’m pretty happy with what I have for the flat this year though – the first big day …