It’s been a quiet couple of weeks at Whatcombe and we have only had a handful of runners.

Gifted Girl ran a massive race at Arlington in coming second behind Dank who in the end won nicely. The race did not really suit her way of running as it was a furious pace from the beginning, she broke and took a bit of time to get into stride aided by Tom who knows her very well. As Dank had left her up the straight by the time she got into top gear the race was over, she was a fast finisher.  She really enjoyed her trip and could be heading back to the States in September.

It was nice to see Strawberry Jam winning at Kempton under an enterprising ride by Nathan Alison he should get further in time as he stayed on strongly.

We do not have many runners over the next week and Dutch Art Dealer heads to Windsor he is in good form and we expect him to run well. Sovereign Power runs at Brighton and he is in good form.

It's been a good couple of weeks for Whatcombe:

Starting of with a treble at Ripon, it was great to get another winner for the Sultan in Kuantan one who put up a very gutsy performance to win having taken the lead at the bottom bend. Complicit also did it the hard way in the maiden having broke a bit late and coming through to win given an emphatic ride by Graham Lee, he is a nice horse in the making and will run at Windsor under new ownership a week on Monday in a novice race at Windsor. One of the yards favourites Silverheel's can sometimes be hard to place but everything suited him a smallish field and daylight where he went onto prevail. Thatchit who is a half sister to Radiohead also ran a blinder to come second at Windsor we hope there is a maiden in her, she is very well at home. Dutch Art dealer looked like he got beat by a very good horse to come third at Ascot but we think there is a lot more to come from him as we have always liked him and he is one to keep an eye out for in the future. 

Goodwood:

Silverheels after his win at Ripon did not bounce back as we thought he may do but the feeling was he did not like the ground and the field was probably was too big. Grecian ran ok but we feel he did not quicken down the hill, it looked like the inexperience beat him, as he was one of the last of the bridle he is a very nice horse for the future he should have won at Ascot but did not have luck in running. The ground did not help Meritocracy by the mass of rain that hit the track the night before he is a firm ground specialist.

Bluegrass Blues is such a nice horse to train he is tough and genuine. He has won three races this year and probably was unlucky in a couple. The pace really suited him and he galloped right to the line. He may go over a mile next time.


Berkshire did his first gallop on the grass since the Chesham and his regular work jockey could not be happier with him the Champagne is still the target.

                                 Berkshire enjoying his wash after his gallop.

Gifted Girl worked very well on Saturday and will be heading to the Beverly D it looks a hot race but the prize money is big and she is in great form, she heads out there next Saturday.

                               Gifted Girl enjoying some grass after her work.

Walking back from the gallops after exercise