Greetings from Newmarket! After enjoying a spell of winners last week, we have sadly been re-diagnosed with a bout of seconditis this week. At Ayr on Monday Khanmurjan came to win his race only for the line to arrive a stride too soon, whilst at Thirsk on Tuesday Vision Clear went down fighting by a head in a ding dong tussle. Meanwhile, Indian Warrior and Qawamees have also found one too good in their races in recent days. These things are sent to test us, but we battle on!
Today we have two runners, namely Arctic Spirit at Leicester and Grandscape at Doncaster. The former is set to take in the 4.20, a seven-furlong nursery. A bonny little filly, she has run with credit on all three starts so far and now starts life in handicaps from a rating of 67. That mark looks perfectly fair, but she clearly needs to find a little improvement to win. It is hoped that the step up to seven-furlongs will be the key to unlocking some improvement, as her sire Intello has an ordinary record (albeit from a small sample) with his runners at five or six furlongs, but is now getting bundles of winners as his progeny go further. If that logic holds true then she might have a small each way chance under Jim Crowley.
Grandscape goes in the last race of the day, a seven runner mile and a half handicap. We pitched him in here as the race was threatening to cut up, but unfortunately it is a little more competitive than we were hoping! However, a galloping track like Doncaster ought to play to his strengths and Grandscape has been steadily progressive in his four runs this season. It may be that he wants a longer trip in time, and there is a slight question mark still as to what ground suits him best, but I am still hoping for a step in the right direction. P J McDonald knows the horse well and is riding this evening.
All the best,
Ed.