The winning micro pig, number 10 Hamelot
Mrs D and myself attended the Walking The Courses Final Flight Ball last night at the Hurlingham Club. It was a very fun evening that was well attended and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was there to support a fantastic cause. I even managed to train the winner of the micro pig race when Hamelot managed to get his snout home in front under the drive of Ryan Boar. It will be a jolly weekend at Faringdon Place as Philippa Hills, wife of Charlie managed to win the rather large bottle of champagne that was on offer for first prize.
Another overcast day here at Headquarters but there was no overnight rain and it is chilly here this morning with a light breeze. There is still rain forecast at Goodwood in the early hours of tomorrow morning and some more rain early afternoon and I am crossing my fingers it arrives. The horses had a normal day and went up the Warren Hill polytrack.
We have the one runner today at Wolverhampton, Swiftee has had two runs and he took a step forward from his Wood Ditton run when third at Windsor last time. The winner looked to be quite useful and whilst it is his first start on the all-weather I am hopeful he can handle it and if he does then there is no reason he cannot be competitive. Looking at his rivals, the William Haggas trained newcomer looks interesting whilst Rebel Cause was beaten by White Poppy who ran well yesterday when second to Manson at Sandown and Invocation’s third last time has worked out well.
The Irish 2,000 Guineas looks like a small but select field tomorrow evening. Air Force Blue has a chance to redeem himself whilst Awtaad looks like a rapid improver and Blue De Vega shaped encouragingly when chasing him home last time in a manner that suggested he will appreciate a step up from seven furlongs. The smart two year old Sanus Per Aquam returns and a trio of Aiden O’Brien horses complete the field with the Guineas fourth Air Vice Marshal amongst them. There are showers forecast which will suit Galileo Gold and if he has improved as has been suggested he will be very hard to beat.