Amongst the winners:
It’s been another good week with a nice handful of winners. Ballygeary was one we hoped would go close given his previous bumper run. He won well and is hopefully still improving.
Zestful for Martin Keighley did it nicely, considering it was her first run over hurdles, and should also improve a bit for that. All of Martin’s ran well at Catterick last week and he’s a good trainer who doesn’t travel them without good reason.
Hard Iron is another improving horse who won well, and even though Notlongtillmay’s task may have been made a bit easier by the two fallers, he couldn’t have done any more than he did.
In the week, Sleeping Satellite, who was a wee bit underwhelming at Haydock last time, bounced back and ran a lot more like the horse we thought he was. He’s a nice one to have heading into the spring. Shighness won well too, and Miladygrace got into a great rhythm out in front and put her race to bed nicely.
Dublin Racing Festival:
I thought the Dublin Racing Festival made great viewing. Great crowds with good, competitive racing. It looked a big success, and I don’t see why it can’t rival Cheltenham as the big meeting of the season, particularly given how close it is to a city like Dublin – it all makes for a great weekend.
Galopin Des Champs won nicely and deserves his place at the head of the market in the Gold Cup as things stand, while State Man certainly gave the Constitution Hill team something to think about. He still needs to improve to get close to Constitution Hill, but the way he’s going it should make for a great race come March.
Bangor, Friday:
Conquredalofeurope (2:20pm) has run well on his two latest starts, but Catterick was plenty sharp enough over 3m1f the last day and we think he’ll stay this 3m5f trip well.
I’ll look to ride him a little more patiently to help him see it out, and he’s dropping in class at a track that Donald [McCain] does very well at, so I’d like to think he’ll go well.
Hidalgo De L’Isle (2:50pm) had to give a lot of weight away to a filly of Brian Ellison’s the last day, so he lost nothing in defeat really. That horse has since come out and finished third in a Listed race at Doncaster, so the form is stacking up and he should be able to get his head in front off his current mark. He’s been a beaten favourite on his four starts so far, but there’s plenty of reason to believe he can regain a few of those followers here. He shows plenty at home and has done everything but win, so fingers crossed.
Waspy (3:25pm) ran really well at Wetherby the last day, finishing third behind an expensive Paul Nicholls horse and the second was a nice type owned by John Magnier. We weren’t beaten that far, and he should improve plenty for that run, so fingers crossed. He’s definitely one of the nice ones Donald has and should have a bright future. Fergal’s [O’Brien] horse, Crambo, looks like the main danger.
Uttoxeter, Saturday:
Home Sweet Highway (1:00pm) is a horse we’ve always liked, and I didn’t think he quite gave his true running at Ayr. We believe he’s a lot better than what he’s shown us on the track so far, so fingers crossed.
I don’t know too much about Greenrock Abbey (2:10pm), but he’s won two of his last three and looks like an improving horse. Kerry Lee’s horses are going well, and it would be nice to ride her a winner.
I’m pulling on the famous JP McManus silks for Guetapan Collonges (2:45pm) which is always nice. Mr McManus has put so much into the sport, and it always feels like a privilege to ride in those colours. Guetapan Collonges was well-fancied for the Classic Chase and ran pretty well, so should hopefully take some beating in this lesser company.
Peejaybee (3:20pm) didn’t seem to take to chasing so is now back over hurdles. He could be quite well-treated off his current mark given some of his form over hurdles last season, but it’s hard to be too confident and he does need to bounce back.
It looked like a mistake at the tenth cost Eurkash (3:55pm) a bit last time out at Huntingdon, while he didn’t show much the time before that at Wincanton. He’s had a bit of a break, so hopefully he’s in better form now and can be a bit more
