It is a miserable day here in HQ today and it has been drizzling after some overnight rain. There was some enjoyable racing over the weekend but the rain made it very hard work at Cheltenham and it was a shame it wasn’t run on slightly better ground. Gifted Master did very well to win the Golden Rose Listed at Lingfield and if he gets a good draw on All Weather Finals day he will have a serious chance of winning the Sprint as the 6f around Lingfield seems tailor made for him. Master The World got his head in front again in what was a messy Churchill Stakes and the second Victory Bond did well to finish second given the passage he had through the race.
Dubai Frame and Highcastle both showed a little in their races at Lingfield on Saturday. I hope they will be horses that can improve next season as they strengthen. Global Wonder missed the break at Wolverhampton but looked like he may make up plenty of ground before he faded late on.
We run two horses today at Wolverhampton. Global Angel ran well last time at Chelmsford when finishing fifth and he runs in the 9 1/2f Nursery at 1:30. The winner won well that day but he was not beaten too far by the second. We felt he could do with some help and so we are claiming seven off of his back this afternoon. Unfortunately we have been drawn wide in stall twelve and that is not easy to overcome around Wolverhampton.
If he can secure a reasonable position then he has each way claims in what is a typically open Nursery given the grade. The favourite Sauchiehall Street has shaped the last twice as if he will improve for this step up in trip and Progressive Jazz was just behind him at Kempton and might improve a little too for further. Ahfad is making his handicap debut and although he is not bred for this trip, he is well drawn and cannot be discounted.
Arnarson was disappointing last time but we took a chance on the ground as the race had little depth and he did not enjoy the soft going. The switch back to the all-weather will be in his favour and he has been drawn well in stall two. He has proved difficult to win with but I hope he will run well with the first time blinkers on. Invincible Ridge may be better over 5f but he is well handicapped on his old form and Inlawed has been progressing lately and is the only last time out winner in the field. Essential is lightly raced and therefore there could well be improvement to come from him.