The happy couple.
Myself and Mrs D have made a quick visit to Ireland to attend the wedding of my former Assistant and now fellow Trainer George Peckham out in Kentstown. He married the lovely Emma Campbell and we had a fantastic time. We are now flying home and will be back early this afternoon.
It has been a cold morning I am told at Headquarters and we have had some rain showers. The ground is described as good at the Rowley Mile and it is likely to remain so given the cooler temperatures and the sporadic showers that are forecast throughout the week. The horses remain in good health and I just hope that the weather warms up soon as cold weather at this time of year can knock horses backwards.
I was very happy with Opposition on Saturday, it may turn out to be a weak race he won given the second favourite failed to stay but he won with authority and looks a nice prospect for the months ahead. Shafafya ran a pleasing race when second in the one mile handicap at Haydock given she was keen early and Flinty Fell showed promise in the one mile fillies’ maiden. Zauffaly was third in a seven furlong handicap at Leicester and we will step him up to a mile next time and try and find a similar grade handicap for him.
We have five runners this evening at Windsor and Wolverhampton. Warrior Prince is a nice prospect but he will improve for his debut and it looks a strong maiden with the favourite having some strong form in the book. Dutch Uncle comes back in trip to ten furlongs having failed to see out the twelve furlongs last time. The ground is a slight unknown for him but he is very consistent and would have a chance on his best form. Michael’s Mount steps up in trip significantly in the concluding twelve furlong handicap, he ran over seven furlongs on his last start but they went a crawl which did not suit him at all. We think he will be better over a staying trip as he is related to John Gosden’s smart stayer Camborne and he has been pleasing me recently at home.
Justice First is our first runner at Wolverhampton, he has been consistent throughout the Winter and he drops he grade here, I hope he will run his usual race and he has each way claims. Blushes runs in the last race at Wolverhampton, I would ideally want to find a race over a mile for her but this race seems less competitive than other options and I hope she can go well once more over the course and distance she won over last time.
The racing on Saturday was very enjoyable indeed, the William Haggas trained Fadillah looks a nice prospect and I was impressed with her given the slow early pace in the race. There appeared to be a fantastic atmosphere over the jumps at Sandown where Richard Johnson picked up his very much deserved first Jump Jockeys Championship. The Trainers Championship has also been exciting to watch and Paul Nicholls did fantastically well placing his horses towards the end of the season to ensure he kept his title. Willie Mullins was as gracious as ever in defeat and he is likely to be there contending again next year given the amount of stars he will retain for next season.