Red Verdon
We have had some rain here at HQ but not nearly enough. It remains overcast but the rain has currently stopped and I would expect the ground to remain on the fast side for next week’s meeting at the Rowley Mile. I worked some two year olds on the Water Gallop this morning and I was happy with how they all went as it was the first time some of them have gone a little faster than they would normally go in their daily routine.
Chester is a meeting I love and I was very pleased to get a winner on day two of the May meeting. Andrea Atzeni ensured Zamjar kept his position in the early stages of the race and he showed a good attitude to get to the front close home.
We have five runners today although it will be a last minute decision as to whether we run some of the horses. The forecast originally suggested we would get a good amount of rain before racing at Chester on Friday but this is now looking unlikely to materialise. Apex King has been taken out of the Dee Stakes due to the quick ground and he will now more than likely run at Lingfield tomorrow in the Derby Trial. Red Verdon runs in the Ormonde but we will watch the first race before making a decision on his participation. US Army Ranger finished ahead of us in the Derby but he has disappointed on the whole since. He has won at the track last year and on his best form he is the horse to beat. Midterm won the Derby Trial at Sandown last year and ran a very good race in the Prix Niel last September. He has disappointed at times however but has a big reputation at home. Our horse was very consistent last year but he has not been seen since last July after suffering a setback when we were preparing him for the St Leger. He has been in good form in recent weeks and I hope he can run well but it is very much a starting point for him. Wall Of Fire ran well at Nottingham and looks a progressive horse, Western Hymn is a very good horse who has won a Group 2 and been placed in Group 1s although the suspicion is that he will be better on slower ground. Winning Story ran a career best when winning the Marathon on all-weather finals day and cannot be ignored whilst Diamonds Pour Moi is very unexposed and could be anything but she will also want some cut. It’s a very intriguing renewal of the race.
Alniyat run in the 7f fillies’ Maiden and it looks like a decent little race. Gymnaste is likely to improve on a promising debut whilst Desert Rain has also been second on her first two starts. Our filly ran in a strong Kempton Maiden on her first start and whilst she faces some nice types here and will improve on her seasonal debut, she is not without ability. Michael’s Mount runs in the last race at 5:05 and he has been drawn very well in stall two. I would love to see him on soft ground as he seems to save his absolute best for it but he will handle today’s conditions and we will take our chance given the lack of soft ground at the moment. It is a weaker race than the one he contested last time but Archippos could be the horse we all have to beat and Croquembouche ran into a potentially well handicapped horse last time so he warrants respect.
Mushareefa and Al Nafoorah run at Nottingham this evening and the Mile Maiden Mushareefa is in at 6:15 looks a strong affair. Our filly has run twice and not shown much so far. We are still learning about her but realistically she will not be good enough to win this evening. Al Nafoorah ran very well at Wolverhampton when second and she is three pounds well in this evening. Unfortunately we have been drawn in stall ten which is a difficult draw to overcome. It is an open looking affair and Pobbles showed ability when she was at Roger Charlton’s whilst Nancy Hart showed ability in Maidens. Tulip Dress won last time but has been drawn badly. If some of the showers around Nottingham hit the racecourse this afternoon then that will help our filly and if she settles early she should be finishing off her race well and will have every chance.