Sparkle
We have some much welcome warmer weather here in Newmarket today. The yearlings are continuing to progress and they visited the grass alongside the Al Bahathri late last week as part of their education. Whilst it is a very quiet time of year, we still have around ten horses that are declared to run or are close to a run. I took three horses to the Al Bahathri yesterday to do a piece of work and they are all nearly ready to run now.
Gloryette was sixth at Wolverhampton over 2 miles on Saturday night. She had a good position early but did not quite finish her race off, she will more than likely have one more start and will then head to the paddocks.
Dutch Uncle and Sparkle both head to Kempton later on for the early evening meeting and both would have each way claims in two competitive races. Sparkle ran her best race yet when third last time in a competitive Nursery and we have taken the hood of her this evening. The two principles are both proven over a mile and therefore it is unlikely to be run at a crawl but I hope our filly may have more speed than them over 7f. Despite being out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, Haraka shaped as if this drop back to 7f may suit last time and she could be a danger to all. Widnes looks to be the most dangerous outsider given he could have met two above average opponents last time but he has stall twelve to contend with.
Later on at 6:45 Dutch Uncle contests the 1m3f 0-85 handicap which represents a drop in grade after he contested the Middle Distance Final on his comeback run. He has come on for the run and if he could match his second behind Barsanti over course and distance then he would have every chance but we do have a wide draw in 13 to overcome. Towerlands Park looked a horse to follow when winning well on his third start over a mile and if he is fit and ready to go after a year off the track he could be very well handicapped. The trip is a worry with his breeding suggesting a mile could suit better than this eleven furlongs.
Inniscastle Lad is a horse I know well having owned and trained him, he could well get the lead despite being drawn eleven and will be dangerous if he can dictate. There should be two or three horses that sit on his quarters but we are likely to get an even gallop at best. Tangramm is coming back from a break but he was extremely progressive last year before running badly on his last start.