Venedegar
Good morning from Newmarket! We were fortunate enough to bag a double yesterday, thanks to Dagueneau and Teenage Gal - more of which you can read about on our news page! Today we have three runners, headed by Grandscape and our amateur jockey Sophie Smith in the 5.40 at Catterick.
Grandscape has been in our yard since day one, but this will be his first outing in new ownership, having been purchased by Sophie's mum Kate at the horses in training sales recently, with a view to giving Sophie experience in amateur riders races. He has been a slightly frustrating horse so far, demonstrating a bit of talent in maiden and novice company at two, but failing to find the winners enclosure so far this year. We have played around with his trip, and in time he surely will want a bit further than the mile and a half he gets today. However, following a down the field effort at Sandown, he is now down to a rating of 63, from which he ought to be competitive.
Today's race looks fiercely competitive though, and as this will be Sophie and Grandscape's first outing together, it is something of a learning experience for all involved. We wish Sophie the best of luck and hope for a good performance - if the race pans out favourably they might have small each way claims.
The second runner is Venedegar, who I am very much looking forward to watching in the 6.30 at Newmarket, a mile novice on ground that is currently described as good to soft. A son of Dubawi and a full-brother to our former Listed winner Prince Gagarin, Venedegar has shaped very nicely in two starts at Sandown over seven furlongs. There is little doubt that a step up to a mile will suit, whilst a little ease in the ground should not hurt either. He is potentially quite a nice sort, and we are certainly hoping for a good effort and a continuation of his progression this evening. The snag is that we have run into quite a hot contest, but he should have a little each way chance.
Our trio of runners is completed by Global Humor in the 7.00, also at Newmarket. A promising novice winner last season, he has failed to beat a rival home in two outings this year. He has snuck into a 0-75 contest today, and we hope that a return to easy turf will help a horse that is not the soundest, and the lower grade of race should also be to his benefit. He continues to work reasonably well, but until we see something more positive from him on the racecourse, it is hard to have any confidence. It is a case of simply hoping for the best.
Best wishes,
Ed.