I haven’t had much time to reflect on the racing last weekend. I fancied Knot in Wood for the sprint at Musselburgh on Friday night and he won well, albeit not quite as easily as last year. Valery Borzov again showed plenty of early dash and there may well be another race in him this summer.
Dar Re Mi had really solid claims in the listed contest at Newmarket and she stayed on well under Richard Mullen on ground that was probably quicker than ideal. A couple of other runners from my list to follow, Corrybrough and Bankable ran with credit in defeat. Corrybrough was 2nd to Intrepid Jack over 6 furlongs. He will revert to the minimum trip according to his trainer Henry Candy, and he will win more races. Time may well show that Bankable’s close second behind Passage of Time was a pretty decent effort and he should be placed to win at Group level before too long.
This week sees plenty of racing at the Yorkshire tracks as it is their festival of racing. Tomorrow the show moves to Catterick where there are some interesting runners in the maiden at 2.20. Of special interest to me is the Mark Johnston newcomer Proclaim. He is a a half brother to Dhaular Dhar, a horse that has won at least once each season he has run and he is now a 6 year old. The horse with the best form in the book is Sir Mark Prescott’s Starry Sky, who was 4th on his debut at Kempton recently. Prescott trained the dam’s half sister to win 3 times so he knows the family. Ann Duffield saddles two runners in this maiden, including the previously unraced Hawk Wing filly Star of Sophia (pictured), who is appropriately enough, a half sister to Queen of Bulgaria, a winner as a juvenile.
Sticking with the two year olds there have been good reports about Ralph Beckett’s Hesketh, an early foal by Nayef. Seb Sanders has the ride in the 6.15 at Leicester.
Wing Play was doing his best work at the finish last time at Warwick and should appreciate the extra furlong in the 2.30 at Lingfield. He was a winner on the all weather at Wolverhampton last November beating a horse called Martyr that has won twice since. You will need to watch your bets in the 5.00 as trainer Peter Grayson runs both Stoneacre Chris and Stoneacre Sarah.
My only suggestion yesterday, Aleatrisic duly completed his four timer at odds of 4/5 at Yarmouth.
Picture by courtesy of Ann Duffield Racing.
Bye for now
ahorse 