We worked a few this morning and Warren Marston, Tom Bellamy and Abi Stock were in to ride out. We worked Primogeniture, Mr Mafia, Matravers, Forecast, Sporty Yankee, Cotswold Prince, By Sulamani, Peeping Penny, Hartshorne Abbie, Morning Herald and Weyburn. The rest cantered.
They worked well but unfortunately my mood was changed when looking up the new Handicapper ratings. We are still getting wonderful messages of congratulations following Dr Dunraven’s win on Saturday however I was absolutely dumbfounded and nearly fell off my chair, to see that the Handicapper has put him up a massive 11lbs over fences and also another 6lbs over hurdles (it was a chase he won). Frustrating for us all especially his patient owners and the Handicapper now knows our feelings about it too…..!
Chairman Jon Hughes in this morning for meetings with Belinda and Carole, our Bookkeeper, whilst Harry Stock and I are at Fontwell with two runners.
Sugar Storm (Harry Stock) runs at 2.15pm and she needs to step up on what she has shown so far to be in the mix there. She had a small wind operation before her last run so we are hoping she now has the confidence that she can breathe more easily now – she goes well at home but needs to transfer that to the track.
Later on Young Phoenix (Andrew Tinkler) runs in the 3 mile Handicap Hurdle which looks a wide open race. He also needs to step up on his last run where he disappointed a little when favourite and we thought he’d go close. He’s one of the best looking horses in the yard and is a horse we like so hasn’t been rushed and is lucky enough to have very patient owners who have given him the time he needs. I hope he enjoys Fontwell and runs a good race.