Yorkshire trainer John Quinn was in fine form over the weekend with an across the card double. I wasn’t convinced that Blythe Knight would be able to win over 7 furlongs at Chester, mainly on the evidence that he had not won over that distance before and he is now a seven year old. Still, I was not sorry to be proved wrong as he such a star. I did flag up the trainer’s other winner, Zomerlust though, who benefitted from a strong ride from Robert Winston.
There were reasonable runs from a couple of my other handicap tips, Ezdiyard, who was 3rd in the John Smith’s Cup, and Sanbuch who was a staying on 4th at Ascot. Poor Borderlescott was narrowly beaten yet again. His defeat at Chester was the 13th time he has finished runner up in his career . In fact if you look at his last 10 runs he has finished second on 7 occasions. Beckermet, who beat him by a nose on Saturday, is trained by Roger Fisher. It was nice to see the trainer interviewed in TV. He has done well with Beckermet. He was something of a favourite trainer of mine in years gone by with jumpers like Ekbalco and Run and Skip.
I know I have gone on about Seafield Towers numerous times in the past and he basically never wins. In fact he hasn’t won for 3 years. He has actually won 3 times in a long career at odds of 4/1, 20/1 and 33/1. All 3 wins came in July or August so you could try and drum up an argument for him coming good at this time of year! His last run a week ago showed a smidgeon of promise as he was 4th despite being 12 lbs out of the handicap. He runs in the Ayr 2.10 tomorrow, where he is a course and distance winner. If he is ever going to win again it just might be tomorrow. Tell you what; if he doesn’t win tomorrow I guarantee never to put up a case for him again!
General Ting was a winner for my list to follow on Saturday. Another runner from the list and also from the same stable is Aleatricis in the Ayr 5.10. He only scrambled home by a nose at Hamilton last time out and has gone up 7 lbs as a result. He was driven along some way from home that day and I really expected him to be upped in trip when he next ran. I am surprised therefore that he drops back to 10 furlongs.
Windsor stage a decent evening card and there are a couple of runners from our list to follow in the 7.00. Tarkheena Prince has done us proud, winning at 7/1 and 6/1 already. He has gone up a bit in the weights but there may well be more to come from him. He tries a mile and a half for the first time. There is stamina on the dam’s side so the trip might not be a problem. He has proven form on soft ground but the tight track would be a slight concern. First Avenue was 2nd at Newbury last time. He looks the sort that would benefit from some ease in the ground and perhaps also from a more positive ride.
Today’s pictures are by courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau.
The next update will be Tuesday evening.
ahorse 