A busy day yesterday at Worcester with 5 runners. Dr Dunraven started off proceedings for our Racing Club and he ran another solid race to finish 5th just 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner. He’d have been better suited coming off a strong pace but jumped well and was game and consistent once again so Andrew Tinkler was also happy with him.
Well done to Ash for winning the best turned out with him. He did look a picture and the turnout is something we often don’t run as people always seem to go with a plaited horse and I don’t like my horses being plaited as I think it stresses them unnecessarily. Ash always turns our horses out very well.
We then had 2 runners in the next 2 races so it was all go. Cul De Poule and Mister Valentine both ran very promising races. Cul was joint top weight so was giving weight away to all bar one and was a little green at times but ran another very good race. Sadly he finished very lame and has injured his tendon and will have a year on the sidelines which is such a shame and so unlucky for his very supportive owners Roger & Yvonne Allsop.
Mister Valentine ran a bit too keen for the first part of the race but Harry Stock did well to settle him. He jumped well and we were very pleased with his 4th place which was an improvement on his bumper form. With all of The Lucky Seven, his owners, present there yesterday I was relieved he ran well!
On to the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and Chequered View settled well in a hood and jumped well under the Champion Jockey to finish a good 3rd and please us and her owner. Hartshorne Abbie was very novicey over her hurdles so I hope she will come on for the experience. She goes nicely at home so it is frustrating she’s not yet produced it on the track.
Work morning and Jonathan and Pauline Clyde in first lot to watch Cotswold Prince who is nearing his racecourse debut. 2nd Lot Chris Dee was in to watch Pirate Look work. We also worked Debden Bank, Back on the Lash, World War, Brillare Momento, Twentyoneblackjack, Raving Bonkers, Finnick Glory, Kayf Tara filly, Sarasota Star, Reve and Ben Buie.
Three runners at Uttoxeter and all with decent place chances I hope. Oscar World and Somewhere To Be both run under Aidan Coleman and are both returning from their summer break. Oscar World has had a wind operation and seems to have strenthened up over the summer so I’m hopeful of a bold show from her. Somewhere To Be seems in good form at home too and runs in the 2m 4f Handicap Chase. In between those two we run Buckle Street who has had a few options cancelled due to the quick ground and was even heading to Thirsk on the flat at one stage! He gets pretty grumpy at home when he’s feeling well and is certainly trying to bite most people that dare go near him at the moment so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. All three look a picture so I’d be pretty disappointed if they didn’t all put up a bold show today.
Meanwhile Belinda goes back to the classroom as she’s at Cheltenham Racecourse on a Lycetts Team Champion Management Course that I was booked into until we realised it clashed with three important runners. She’ll be sneaking out to watch Buckle Street, who she rides a lot, I’m sure!