Good morning from Newmarket. We have three runners today, but have to wait until the 3.10 at Yarmouth to get started.
The horse in question is Homesick Boy, who takes his chance in a mile and a quarter 0-65 handicap. This horse has been a little inconsistent, and our early season hopes that he might be well-handicapped have been dashed. However, he is now down to a rating of just 57 and he has run reasonably well on both previous visits to Yarmouth. This is a competitive race for its type, and Homesick has only finished in the places once in eight attempts, so we must not get carried away. However, I am hoping that Jamie Spencer can prove an ideal fit for him and that he might have a little each way chance.
Sticking at Yarmouth, we run the disappointing Reddiac in the seven-furlong maiden handicap at 5.20. He was placed behind the subsequent Grp-2 winner Dark Vision at this track last year, and at one point he looked as though he might make up into a talented horse. Things have plainly not gone to plan since, and his seasonal return at Lingfield in blinkers was deplorable. We remove the headgear today, switch back to turf, and hope that a race of this nature can allow him to show some form again. P J McDonald takes the mount.
Our third runner of the day is Grandscape in the mile and a quarter 0-70 amateur riders' handicap at Newbury at 4.55. He will be partnered by regular rider Sophie Smith, and we reach for a pair of cheek-pieces following a lacklustre display at Pontefract just over three weeks ago. He seems to have perked up for the headgear at home, and he is returning to a mark from which he ought to be competitive. I would ideally like good or good to soft ground for him, but this looks a good opportunity for horse and rider. A return to his best ought to see him involved in the finish, so let us hope he can show some of his old spark.
Fingers crossed for some luck today.
All the best,
Ed.