First Quest
An overcast morning here in Newmarket but it has been mainly dry. We are due rain this afternoon and then some more tomorrow so soft ground is likely to be the order of the day here this week. Whilst this wetter weather has been prevailing it has been noticeable how many races have re-opened and as it has kept me very busy between 10am and 1030am as we have been looking to see if we can find an easy race for some of the horses. Unfortunately there have not been as many below par races as I would have liked but we have entered two or three at the re-opening stage and hopefully it will pay dividends.
Al Nafoorah got back on the right track yesterday and won with authority at Nottingham. The fast pace helped her but P J McDonald got her settled at the back of the field and gave her a very confident ride which suited our filly very well. This was a step forward again and if only all horses were like her. She has won twice this year, been second four times and been fourth when she was ridden too aggressively early in the race. On this evidence she can win for us again.
We run First Quest today at Lingfield in the last. I have put the tongue tie on him as he can get his tongue over the bit and I hope the all-weather surface will suit him. He showed he has ability when winning at Sandown last season and I think he will stay this one and a half mile trip. Pioneertown is extremely unexposed and steps up markedly in trip for Sir Mark whilst Koeman posted a career best when winning last time and Oxford Don is a low mileage horse who cannot be discounted. It is a competitive three year old only affair but I do think he is a little overpriced.