Having a pick of grass.
Overcast and cool in Newmarket this morning following a good dousing of rain yesterday. About 5mm hit the Rowley Mile, changing the ground to good all round.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening inspecting Sir Robert Ogden’s yearlings at his Sicklinghall Stud yesterday. Many thanks to Sir Robert for his generous hospitality.
I am now on my way to York ahead of our duo running in the Yorkshire Cup. I will be joining Mr Quy and his family alongside Mrs Stewart-Brown and Mrs Meacock for lunch in the new build, which has gained rave reviews over the first two days of the Dante meeting. It’s then back here for a Thurloe Thoroughbred dinner at the Jockey Club Rooms this evening. No rest for the wicked!
In terms of our prospects today, we saddle the two outsiders in the Yorkshire Cup and it’s fair to say we have plenty to find on the figures. The front three in the market all bring top-quality form to the table and we are playing for minor money on all known form.
However, Times Up has seemingly been working with plenty of his old gusto of late – you wouldn’t think he was nine – and this is a good place to start him off. The ground might be a little lively for Island Remede, but she has acquitted herself well so far this year and it seems prudent to take our chance with the race having cut up.
We also saddle our first two-year-old runners of the year this afternoon, with Qeyaadah running at Newbury and Girl With A Pearl lining up at Newmarket. Cogent is now a non-runner at Newbury due to the softening ground.
It’s almost impossible to assess their claims with so little known about the opposition, but both will benefit from their initial experience.
No declarations for Ripon on Sunday with Scrutinise likely to head to Chelmsford on Tuesday. God Willing has been given an alternative engagement at Goodwood next Thursday. He was one of seven entries we made this morning and they also included Arethusa in the Height Of Fashion Stakes.
Finally, the Flat season has been waiting for a flagship horse to burst onto the scene and we might just have found one in the shape of Golden Horn yesterday. His emphatic win in the Dante was just what the doctor ordered and whether he goes to Epsom or Chantilly, he will surely take all the beating.
Back tomorrow. Ed.