Enjoying the sunshine yesterday.
Cold and windy this morning with an overcast day forecast.
I am at Chester this afternoon as we attempt to win the Cup for the first time. Both of our charges have solid chances – Trip To Paris is progressive, winning his last two, and I was impressed with the way he went about things at Ripon as it’s not easy to come from off the pace there.
The trip was no problem to him on that occasion and he’s such a relaxed horse that the extra two and a half furlongs shouldn’t be a problem today. His draw isn’t ideal, but the ground should be fine with only minimal rainfall this morning and we think he still has more to offer.
We know a bit more about the evergreen Mubaraza, who ran a blinder when finishing fourth in the race last year and he races off the same mark today. He ran well enough in his prep at Kempton, with the steadily-run race not suiting his style, and while he too could have had a kinder draw, he ought to run a big race.
We’re not expecting a Marwan Koukash-style one-two like last year, but hopefully we have two solid chances of getting involved!
We also have God Willing lining up in the 1m handicap at Chelmsford this evening. It looks an open race without an obvious standout and our horse should act on the surface as a son of Arch. His mark isn’t a gift on what we know from last year, though, and he will probably need his first outing of the season.
Six declarations for us this morning spread across four meetings on what will be a manic Friday. Prince Gagarin, who remained engaged in the Poulains and the Prix Hocquart until the morning, will go to Chester for the Dee Stakes. Seaworthy heads to Ascot for the 1m2f fillies’ maiden and Taqneen heads northwards for the 1m2f handicap at Ripon. Three also go to Nottingham, with Imvula, Mahsooba and Rock Lobster on the box for the evening meeting there.
Four entries this morning with Dark Red and Ejbaar in the 1m maiden at Beverley, while Ejbaar also has the option of the 1m maiden at Chelmsford. Biff Johnson is engaged in that contest as well.
Finally, I enjoyed an excellent afternoon at Woburn yesterday for the Tattersalls-backed golf day. I had the pleasure of playing with Philip Freedman, Ian Quy and Julia Scott, although my swing was woeful and none of us managed to trouble the judge! Many thanks to Tattersalls for their kind sponsorship of the event – hopefully I can put up an improved performance next year. I hope I’m not saying that about our Chester runners shortly after 3.10 today!
Back tomorrow. Ed.