Vision Clear
Good Afternoon from Newmarket. We had a pleasing day yesterday, with Mudallel winning nicely at Chelmsford and Hazarfan showing something positive at Nottingham.
The bandwagon rolls on to Beverley this afternoon, with Vision Clear in the 4.30 our only runner. I have been disappointed not to win with this horse so far, and he has been unfortunate to lose out in photo finishes at both Salisbury and Thirsk. He was runner-up at Salisbury over ten-furlongs on his seasonal return, then failed to see out a mile and three-quarters at Haydock. Returned to a mile and a half, we thought he had found a winning opportunity at Thirsk, but he was worried out of it in the last couple of strides. We then tried to go back down to a mile and a quarter at Doncaster, and he ran well once again, but was just a little outpaced and beaten two lengths into third. Today he will race off his new mark of 76, which further complicates matters.
I now feel that a mile and a half is what he wants, and today’s first-time blinkers should help him concentrate. As ever with this horse, however, the key issue is ground. If it dries up too much he will be unlikely to let himself down, but provided they hold on to genuine good ground, then I expect him to have a good each way chance. Ben Curtis rides.
All the best,
Ed.