Ground looks hopeful

At last better ground, we have a few runners this week that are working well and have been waiting for a trip. There isn’t much between Composed and Standing Bear, both are going well. Composed is penciled in for some Deauville claimers, afterwards.


Mons Calpe has been waiting for faster ground for entries, to give him a better chance. Zing Wing is in good form, he runs at Lingfield on Wednesday. Don Libre hated the bad ground at Newmarket and found it difficult to run. Gifted Girl is back in work, we have high hopes for her. Kaiser Wilhelm came out of his race well and runs at Folkestone, he could be improving. Silver heels runs at Goodwood, looking forward to that. Swing Land is back in work, after a rest. Carlton Blue has not yet shown her true potential, on the course, hopefully this will happen at ascot on Friday.



I though Lee Newman's punishment was totally out of order like most of racings penalties, it was way over the top. Poor lad had his punishment, in the fact it happened at all. One week would have been enough. One of the dangers of backing an apprentice, is that, we all make mistakes all our lives.

Rain delays runners..

Many of the horses here require fast ground so until the weather changes there won’t be much action. We were pleased with Dance With Dragons first run at Windsor as it was too short for him and he was green, he should have a chance on Wednesday 18th July at Sandown. Kalicamix may run at Lingfield on Saturday. We are not sure if he 6f or 7f. Don Libre runs at Newmarket on Friday 20th July, he won well at Lingfield but I'm not sure how he will go on the soft ground. Silverheels received a bump at Newbury which may have cost him the race according to the jockey. There is a possibility he will run again at Haydock on Saturday as he does go on the soft. Kaiser Wilhelm runs tomorrow at Lingfield, he has a chance but he wouldn't carry any of my money.



Charlie Mann's loan effort to improve prize money was given the thumbs down by the media, lots of tut tutts on channel four but no suggestions on what else should be done?! With racings weak leadership we have been run over by the government, especially the tote fiasco, the Rubens brothers and Northern racing and every Tom, Dick and Harry but I am lead to believe his protest has probably worked.



On a lighter note Sheik Mohammed’s stallion parade hosted by Nick Luck is one of the most enjoyable days and lunches of the year. Fantastic food in a beautiful setting, very well organized and New Approach, who I saw as a yearling, looked magnificent.

Picking up a bit..

The weather is still affecting the horses performance but of course it is the same for everyone. The jump trainers should be cleaning up with these conditions. Carlton Blue runs at Epsom on Thursday if there is no more rain, he needs the fast ground. Composed who needs 7 furlongs may run at Newmarket on Saturday in the Nursery if he gets into the race. Dance with Dragons (Namid Colt still for sale) ran well last night at Windsor (4th ) he needs better ground and seven furlongs but he looks like a winner. Standing Bear runs at  Warwick on thursday if it is not abandoned, he needs seven and it's anybodys guess what will go on the heavy there. Cut No Ice ran well at Newbury but would like faster ground. Don Libre is working well and will run when the ground is better. Velvet star has imporved with a tongue tie on at home and is probably well handicaped. Looking at the results from France, their prize monet for claimers are nearly the same money as our Listed races. Even if you halfed their prize money it would be better than ours. Without the Arabs, racing in the UK could collapse. At least the trainers at the top are ok but I think 70% of trainers must be losing money.

Rain still getting in the way

Carlton Blue was a little disappionting at windsor, he was struck into at the four pole but then finished well and was only beaten by 1 1/2 lengths. Kalicamix runs today at Wolverhampton in the 3.15pm maiden. It looks like a stiff task but he will run well. We will have two or three runners at newbury on Thursday but none of them will like it if the ground if it remains soft but Cut No Ice is looking well. The good news is that our two best fillies are back on the move, Gifted Girl's form at kempton was given a boost at Royal Ascot when Fallen For You won the Coronation Stakes andSwingland has recovered from her virus and is back in work.