We are loving this weather and to walk around the horses early this morning was stunning and they are definitely enjoying their holidays too. Some of the horses in training also spent the night out in the field overnight and were so content and they thoroughly enjoy it too.
Dr Dunraven finished 3rd yesterday at Bangor – a solid run, cruising up looking like the winner but looked as if he didn’t stay the step up in trip. We’ll drop him back to 2 miles again – I think 2 miles on a racecourse with a long straight like Worcester or Uttoxeter will suit him over the summer. Pomme De Nuit is bred to be an out and out stayer so she was always flat out over the 2 mile trip on quicker ground yesterday. We know we won’t see the best of her until she goes jumping and will need a stamina test too but there’s no doubting her attitude as Andrew reported that she was very genuine and it wasn’t for the lack of trying!
Bangor Racecourse could not have looked after us all better – the lunch was superb with complimentary wine too – their new owners & trainers facility was absolutely brilliant and more courses should follow suit and look after their owners … we all know that without owners we’d not be here. It’s not a course I have had many runners at but that will definitely now change!
Over at Wincanton Freddie rode in his hottest pony race to date and finished a good third out of 10 runners and Belinda was thrilled to win the Best Turned Out again! Belinda reported that the whole team at Wincanton could not have done more to help and encourage the children taking part and so a huge thanks to all involved in making the day happen. The Pony Club Pony Racing series seems such a friendly and welcoming one and Freddie is still buzzing this morning after his great day there yesterday.
We have one runner at Stratford this afternoon. Mr Mafia has his first run for me and for John Abernethy and Peter Boggis. He’s in great order, will like the ground and has won at Stratford before. The favourite looks well in after it’s easy win last weekend and maybe still hard to beat despite it’s penalty but I think we will go very close.
A happy Birthday to our conditional jockey Harry Stock’s mum Zoe today!