Sunrise, Racecourse Side.
Autumnal this morning and quite cold now.
I hope you all enjoyed an excellent weekend. Lord’s was good fun even if the performance was a little drab, while Scrutinise was impressive in the mile and a half handicap at Thirsk and he confirmed himself to be on an upward curve. Ease in the ground is important to him and more fanciful autumn targets wouldn’t be out of the equation given the manner of his victory. Let’s see what the handicapper does tomorrow.
Newmarket played Lambourn in a cricketing thriller at Challow yesterday, with the home side securing victory on the penultimate ball of the game. The jumps season might be a few weeks off but Lambourn skipper Oliver Sherwood got the competitive juices flowing with some overzealous captaincy, a trait that wasn’t quite matched by his opposite number David Simcock, while Lambourn fielded 14 players for the first nine overs of our innings!
Participants included Hughie Morrison, George Baker, Mike Bell and Mick Channon jnr alongside Kent pros Sam Northeast and Darren Stevens. The game, organised by Barry and Charlie Hills, raised funds for the East Anglian ambulance service and research into a cure for pancreatic cancer, the disease which so tragically claimed the life of John Hills last year. The afternoon was a real success and the Hills family certainly did John proud.
Mrs Stewart-Brown popped in shortly before lunch to see Warrior Prince and Times Up. The latter will head to the Doncaster Cup on Friday.
I am on my way to Windsor for our sole runner this afternoon. Michael’s Mount lines up in the mile maiden and he’s been handed the coffin draw in stall 14. He shaped well on debut at Sandown and the extra furlong will suit, but it will be hard to get into a good position from out wide and Luca’s sets the form standard.
Two declarations for Wednesday with Red Galileo heading to Doncaster for the conditions race he finished runner-up in last year. Andrea Atzeni will ride him again, while Mulhaam will reappear quickly in the seven furlong handicap at Kempton under William Buick.
14 entries for the weekend including Zarwaan in the Park Stakes, although he has the alternative engagement of a seven furlong conditions race at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon
Back tomorrow.
Ed.