An earlier than usual start for some of the team as we have 3 runners at Southwell so James Best, Deb, Vicki & Belinda rode an earlier lot at 5.30am ahead of normal 1st lot at 6.30am to ensure all the horses were ridden out before some of the team headed racing.
David Parry in bright and early and was rewarded with a lovely morning weather wise and lots of horses to watch in their fast work first and second lot. Warren Marston also in to ride out along with Harry Greasby and we worked Sarasota Star, Ben Buie, Eclat Des Mottes, Black Panther, Beneagles, Cotswold Prince, Reve, Robsam, Enforcement, Found On, Miss Antipova, Kazontherazz, Pinnacle Peak, Capricia, Be Thankful and Solstice Star. The rest either cantered or some did a swinging canter. A good morning.
Three Southwell runners are headed by Lord Condi in the first over fences under James Best and he needs to bounce back from some very disappointing runs. He seems fresh and well though and we’ve had a good run up to this reappearance with him and it would be fantastic if he could put in a solid run and give us something to build on once again with him as it was so frustrating that his wheels literally fell off last season. He’s won twice over hurdles, so knows how to win, and James has done plenty of schooling over fences on him so fingers crossed.
Next it’s Mr Mafia who needed his run at Southwell last time even more than we thought. He’s back over fences and Richard Johnson rides today and we know he likes it there as he’s a dual course and distance winner. Hopefully he’s had enough time to come on from that re-appearance and runs a big race.
Finally Raving Bonkers runs in a Handicap Hurdle later in the card also partnered by Richard Johnson who has finished 3rd on him over hurdles before. He has been unlucky – slipping up on the bend at Uttoxeter when going well and also been balloted out more than his fair share of times this season so far so it would be great to repay his patient owners. We were hoping to give him a run on the flat and indeed have kept him in training during Lockdown but the more Stalls work we did with him the more anxious he became so it wasn’t viable in the end. Not only did we not want to stress the horse out, with Covid-19 restrictions runners on that flat have less stalls handlers so Trainers have been asked to ensure that horses are well behaved and we couldn’t guarantee that. Good luck to all the team.