Lauranne, Maude and a colt by Lope De Vega.
Overcast and gloomy on our return to Newmarket – I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Mrs D and I had a fantastic break and we are raring to go once again.
No gallopers this morning although we are set to work tomorrow.
Mr Goulandris, owner of Bluehills Racing, and his racing advisor Valerie Girffiths dropped in after third lot to inspect their horses. It was a privilege to welcome them back to the yard.
A nice piece by Julian Muscat on TTP in today's Racing Post - one week on and it still feels no more real.
Not so nice is the draw for the Northumberland Plate with Oasis Fantasy handed stall 21. That first bend comes pretty quickly so the initial couple of furlongs will be crucial.
Red Avenger got his head back in front, or at least level, yesterday when dead-heating with Eutropius in the mile handicap at Newcastle. He had gone off the boil in his last three runs, but the six-week break seemed to do him the world of good and Graham gave him a super ride. We have a similar gap between now and the Goodwood Mile he won last year, so that would seem a logical next target.
Naizah shaped with plenty of promise at Newmarket – she was still a little green when the pace heated up, but she stayed on well having hit the rising ground and she looks ready for a mile now.
We send Hajeer up to the July Course for the fillies’ maiden this afternoon and this tends to be a very good race. Our filly made a promising debut at Kempton, finishing fifth having been slowly away and looked green throughout. We think she has stepped forward for that effort, but plenty hold pressing claims here.
A handful of entries for next Thursday but we are having a pretty quiet time of it at the moment. The July meeting is on the horizon and we will pick up again in the next week or so.
Back tomorrow.
Ed