A brief shower this morning but dry and relatively sunny now.
We worked a number of our string on the Al Bahathri first and second lot with the grass still on the quick side.
The workers included Dutch Uncle, whose form took a boost when his Doncaster conqueror – Subcontinent – notched the hat-trick at Windsor last evening. Our horse is engaged at Newbury on Saturday in the ultra-competitive London Gold Cup.
Mr Gredley was in attendance to see his horses and four members of the Highclere syndicate who own Fieldsman were here to watch him canter up Warren Hill.
We were also joined this morning by a tour from Discover Newmarket and Anthony and Fiona Deal, part-owners of Field Of Light, who ran a solid race to finish fifth at Wolverhampton yesterday with Chad giving him a sound ride.
He remains a little green and needed rousting along when the pace quickened, but he stayed on with some purpose in the straight and he has taken those exertions well. So well, in fact, that we have entered him again in median auction company at Redcar next week.
He could be joined in the north east by Naizah, a once-raced Tamayuz three-year-old who is entered in the fillies’ maiden, and Justice First, who would be returning from a holiday as a first-time gelding following his winter campaign.
Kitten’s Red and Sporting Prince were also given the option of the 1m4f handicap at Leicester while Seaworthy was entered in maiden company at Windsor.
Three runners this afternoon with Dark Red and Ejbaar contesting the extended 7f maiden at Beverley. Dark Red probably sets the standard on what he has done thus far – his Ripon fourth has worked out well with Auspicion (winner) running creditably in a hot Doncaster handicap and Cymro (third) having lowered the colours of Sir Isaac Newton at Chester last week. He is going the right way mentally and we have a good draw – hopefully he can go close.
Ejbaar ran a promising race on debut and that experience will not be lost on him here. He will continue to improve with racing.
At Chelmsford, Biff Johnson makes his debut in what appears a warm maiden. He has a nice draw and this is a good place to start on a safe surface. He will improve on anything he does this evening next time.
Finally, Mrs D has rather reluctantly dragged me into a discussion about pensions this afternoon. I keep telling her that winning the Melbourne Cup would suffice, but apparently we must look at more conventional options!
Back tomorrow. Ed.