A warm, bright start and the forecast is a good one.
Around 100 of the La Grange faithful have started to descend on us for our annual owners’ lunch. Mrs D has been planning meticulously for weeks and everything has gone smoothly so far. Thankfully the weather has come right.
Many of our guests will be heading up to the July Course this afternoon and we saddle one runner in the shape of Alqubbah. By Arcano, out of our May Hill-placed mare Musharaakat, she has done everything nicely at home and we are excited to get her started. This will undoubtedly prove a good maiden, though, and the weight of money behind Mark Johnston’s Lumiere is likely to prove significant.
Both divisions of the maiden are fascinating and the whole card, as would be expected, is high class. I suspect Mr Singh will stamp his St Leger credentials in the Bahrain Trophy while Mahsoob has been crying out for the step up to a mile and a half in the Princess Of Wales’s. I think he will extend his unbeaten run.
Three declarations for Saturday. Zarwaan heads to Chester for the Listed City Plate while God Willing and Hajeer go to York.
Harry and I enjoyed a fine afternoon at the tennis yesterday – it was marvellous to see Federer win and his semi-final clash with Murray is a tantalising one.
Joe Root. What a talent. Is 420 enough? I would say around par – it’s a flat pitch and look what happened at Cardiff six years ago.
Finally, we endured a slightly fraught start to the morning as shortly after the staff arrived in for first lot, Katie’s car was found to be in our outdoor trotting ring. Robin came to the rescue and disaster was averted, although I don’t think Katie will be parking her motor in neutral anytime soon.
Back tomorrow.
Ed