Otto continues to grow.
Overcast but not too warm and we are supposedly set fair for the weekend.
Thick, pea soup-like fog engulfed our workers first lot as we sent eight up the Al Bahathri. The skies were thankfully a little clearer for second lot and we sent seven two-year-olds up the Limekilns. All went smoothly.
Steve Crann, who won our social media competition back in the winter, was here to claim his prize of a morning on the gallops before sampling the fineries of Debby’s Diner. Steve is a particularly enthusiastic racing fan and it was a pleasure to have him with us before he heads off to the Rowley Mile this afternoon.
Bart Hellyer, who owns shares in Fun Money and Zauffaly, also popped in to the Diner before viewing his horses on the Heath.
We saddle four this afternoon across three meetings, although I will be up at Tattersalls rather than on the racecourse as inspections for Book One get underway.
Red Galileo backs up quickly in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot but we gave him the entry when the race reopened on Monday and we thought we would take our chance. He ran one his best races of the season over course and distance when chasing home Agent Murphy in the summer, so while the form book suggests he needs to improve to win this, conditions will be fine and plenty of the principals have question marks to their name.
Zarwaan makes his third foray into Listed company at Redcar and the market is suggesting Celestial Path will be near his best despite a layoff. Our horse has been wonderfully consistent all season and he should get a decent pace to aim at. He is not without a squeak, but if the reputation of the favourite proves to be accurate, we will struggle to beat him.
We also send two to Wolverhampton, with Global Avenger dropping to selling company having disappointed in three maidens. This is a bad horse race and we hope he can show a bit more. Harelstone Hopes will probably need the outing in the concluding mile and a half handicap, but he remains lightly raced and is on a decent mark.
What a wonderful weekend of sport we have in store, with Newmarket this afternoon, a cracking card – including scintillating Doncaster winner Nemoralia – in the US this evening, England vs Australia tonight and then the small matter of Arc day tomorrow, which will hopefully see wondermare Treve sweep all before her for a third time and enter the realms of immortality. Enjoy!
Back Monday.
Ed.