A fun morning with Dan Abraham from Foxtrot Racing bringing up all the owners in Solstice Star and Witness Protection to watch them on the gallops and have a catch up in our Owners’ Room with refreshments.
Three runners at Worcester today. HRH The Princess Royal’s mare Chequered View runs in the Mares’ Handicap Chase and seems in good form. She has visors for the first time and is partnered by Leighton Aspell who has won on her before over hurdles and she’s won over fences too. She’s the outsider of the field but hopefully she’ll defy those odds. I don’t think she’ll mind the ground.
We then have two runners in the same race. Reve makes his seasonal debut and is fit enough to do himself justice but it’s a long season ahead and he will no doubt come on for the run. He has strenthened up over the summer and looks fabulous and I’m looking forward to seeing him progress over the season. We also run Fairmount who will love the ground and but needs to improve on his last run which was his first run back from injury. James Best has been coming in to ride out regularly so has ridden him at home and partners him today.
Before I leave for Worcester I’ll be keeping a close eye on Racing TV hoping they show a race before their card starts at 1.55pm. Freddie & his pony Blackie are racing in the Shetland Pony Grand National there today, their Newmarket debut, over 2 1/2 furlongs – a rare flat race for them as they usually have 10 flights of hurdles to contend with. I’m not sure how fast he is but whatever happens Freddie will have a day to remember I’m sure. Hats off to those in charge at his school as they realise it’s what he wants to do when he leaves school, they are raising money for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and it’s a great opportunity so, as long as he catches up on the work he’s missed today, he’s allowed the day off with their blessing – top marks. Good luck Freddie!