Global Spirit
It has been a fantastic week of racing up at York and although the Group 1s have all been run, there is still the Ebor to be run and it looks as competitive as ever. The ground will be drying out all the time but if the course rides like it did yesterday then you don’t want to be too far off of the pace.
Agar’s Plough ran with promise yesterday and did his best work late on in the 7f Novice. Faay showed early speed on her debut before fading late on in the race and she will hopefully build on her debut next time. Weloof disappointed in the first time blinkers and Amazing Red was caught too far back up at York and made up a little ground late on.
Dark Red will run in the 1m2f handicap up at York as long as the ground does not dry out too much and become too firm for him. He ran well on good ground when second in this race last year. Most of the field seem to be exposed and UAE Prince and Khairaat are at the fore of the market, both re-oppose on better terms than Goodwood and they both suffered some interference. If our horse keeps straight he has the ability to win but we would have liked softer ground. Titi Makfi has been a revelation this year and being only three she is open to more improvement still than most and Baydar would be a threat if he rediscovered his form.
Global Spirit runs in the 2:05 at Newmarket and he is a well put together colt who I hope will be a nice horse in time. This is very much a starting point for him and I hope he will learn a great deal from the run. Not many of his opponents have run but Rockies Spirit won comfortably at Thirsk and It’s Not Unusual showed ability on debut. Betty F hails from a stable that has been having two year-old winners recently and has to be respected. Tadleel runs in a very open looking Nursery at 2:40. He threw the race away at Brighton when messing around in the stalls and we will put him in late this afternoon. I think he is fairly handicapped but a few of his opponents may also be on nice marks. Maksab drops in grade, Affina is improving at a rate of knots and Midnight Wilde could be on a good mark if you take the form of his York second literally.
Sporting Times is our final runner at Newmarket in the 1m6f handicap at 3:50. He is a horse who hails from a family that stay well. He seemed to keep galloping to the line when third here last time and I hope the step up in trip can draw out some improvement. It’s a competitive race and Blakeney Point possibly got there too soon when second at Glorious Goodwood. Theydon Grey is a horse who keeps progressing and he attempts the four timer. Hochfeld needs to resume his progression and Jaameh has solid form this year although the handicapper may have him in his grip now. It’s a very competitive handicap despite the small field and I hope our horse can run well.