Amlad
After a day of mixed results yesterday, we take to the road again today with runners at Ascot, Haydock, and Nottingham. With the quantity of meetings today and yesterday, it is proving to be a busy period for Trainers across the country and many will relish the prospect of getting their charges back on faster ground. My 2 runners at Lingfield yesterday were disappointing, but it is early days with both Cue’s Folly, and Canimar. Horses rarely obey the calendar of human expectation, and in time I hope to see improvement from both. Dark Red ran with ran his usual admirable race at Chester, but just couldn’t peg back the winner in the closing stages. It was a very pleasing performance and I look forward to the rest of his campaign. Global Art ran with credit in his first handicap at Nottingham. Gerard felt he will have learned a lot from the experience and I think he can progress further.
Manjaam is my first runner today in the 1m4f Handicap at Ascot (2.15). Mr. Jaber’s gelding is another consistent performer who has competed in some very strong handicaps in the last 2 seasons, and today’s race looks equally so. He does have the ground in his favour, has strong course form, and while his mark of 92 demands plenty, he has competed off higher in the past. In a strong contest I give him a solid EW chance.
Amlad lines up in the 1m6f Handicap at Haydock (2.35). It is his first run since a below- par performance at HQ last September. This we attributed to the rain softened ground, and given the time of year, took the decision to give him an extended winter break and wait for better ground. Today’s good to firm at Haydock should be ideal. It is his first run in 8 months and while I am hopeful of a good run today, he should progress plenty for the experience.
Finally, I run Agar’s Plough in the 1m ½ f 3yr old Handicap (5.00). He returned from his Winter break with a pleasing performance at HQ in April. James Doyle felt this run would bring him on plenty, and I took the decision to try him in blinkers to help his concentration. As seems to be the theme of late, the race is filled with unexposed progressive types, but I am hopeful Agar’s can continue his own progress and give him a sporting EW chance.
All the best,
Ed.