A lot was made of Constitution Hill not running at Ascot last week.
The point is, the trainer has to make a call on what he thinks is rightfor the horse, and that’s that. It’s a shame that the crowds didn’t get to see him, but that’s racing, and it would have been more frustrating if the horse had run and injured himself. And now the North get to enjoy him up at Newcastle, so hopefully, he runs andputs on a good show up against Epatante.
It was great to see the Skeltons win the big one at Haydock with Protektorat. I think Harry got a great kick out of it, and rightly so, it’s a big Grade 1! I thought State Man was pretty good in the Morgiana. It annoys me that people can’t just enjoy a good horse and they have to focus on the negatives of him jumping a bit big. He’s still learning his trade as a hurdler, and at least he wasn’t low at his hurdles. What would everyone have said if he kicked down the first and fell? I think he’s a nice type who can only get slicker over his obstacles as the season goes on.
Minella Drama was third to Hitman in the Graduation Chase at Haydock last Saturday, and probably a bit unlucky not to be a good second. He stumbled at the back of the second-last and that cost him really. He ran really well given the weight he was carrying, and there will be plenty of options for him on proper winter ground. The softer the better for him.
Hold Onto The Line completed a hat-trick at Musselburgh on Monday on his seasonal reappearance. He was idling a fair bit in the finish, so hopefully, he can improve for that run and go back to Musselburgh again, as he likes the track.
Bents Hollow for Donald [McCain] was expected to win and she did it easily. She was a very cheap buy at the sales and is proving to be plenty of value.
I finished second on Wholeofthemoon at Wetherby on ground which will have been a lot softer than he’s encountered before. He jumped really well, did everything right, and I think we just bumped into a good one really. Alan King is talking about the winner being aimed at the Triumph Hurdle, so you’ve got to fancy the second can go on and win a good hurdles race or two soon.
Saturday at Bangor
I kick off the weekend with The Big Jetaway (12:23 pm). He’s only had the one run over fences, which he won, and this looks the right sort of race to start him off in this season. We’re a bit worried that the ground might get a bit testing for him, but he’s in great form at home and we’re looking forward to getting him underway anyway.
Barrichello (12:53 pm) ran well in a race that’s working out nicely. The two horses he finished behind, Thunder Rock and Brief Times, have both won since,so that’s a positive. He’s won round Bangor on soft ground before and jumps well so I’m hoping he’s got a solid chance.
Grain d’Oudairies (2:03 pm) is a lovely horse by Kapgarde. He ran really well in his bumper, finishing third behind two horses who have both gone on to win novice hurdles. With the natural progression, I’d expect him to go well.
Haveanothergoflo (2:38 pm) is massive horse. He won his only point-to-point and is ready to run, but some of the bigger horses in Donald’s yard have just needed that first run so I’d say whatever he does here he’ll improve for it.
Blue Fin (3:48 pm) ran third in what turned out to be a good point-to-point, with the first and second both winning under rules since. He’s been working nicely at home, and I don’t think testing ground will be an issue. He’s a grand horse and I’d like to think he’ll be bang there.
Sunday at Carlisle
Richmond Lake (1:00pm) won two novice hurdles last season and was second to Jonbon. He also ran a good race in the Grade 2 Premier Hurdle at Kelso before falling at the last, and I think he would have been in the first two or three if he had stayed on his feet. This looks a decent race on paper, with the likes of Soaring Glory and Nells Son in there, but we’re fit and ready to go so I’m hopefully of a good run.
We bumped into a good one the last day with Silver Flyer (2:30 pm). He’s had the run now and I think he’ll go well again over this extended three-mile trip. He should have no problem seeing it out.
Uncle Alastair (3:00 pm) has run stormers on his last two reappearances at Carlisle, and a repeat of them should see him go close. Venetia’s [Williams] horses are in a rich vein of form and her runner here looks a danger, but we’ve always felt Uncle Alastair is a high-class horse and he should be bang there. He’s schooled well and looks well at home, so fingers crossed.
Lost In Transit (3:30 pm) is a lovely big horse. We had him ready to run last year, but the ground went and Donald, rightly so, decided to put him away. He won his only start between the flags when beating a horse that’s now with Nicky Henderson who came out and won a bumper in March and then finished second on his hurdles debut last Sunday. He’s a horse that looks a big, staying chasing type, so he’ll build on whatever he does here moving forwards, but he’s showing us all the right signs at home and should go well.
