At the time of penning these notes we have had a couple of near things from last night’s preview. The ultra consistent Birkside (9/1 at Pontefract) and Charles Parnell (10/1 at Newcastle)
Although there are plenty of meetings up and down the country over the next two days the standard isn’t up to much. The following are a few runners that caught my eye for one reason or another.
I have been following a horse called Hurlingham, trained by Mick Easterby this season, but without much financial reward! He won a couple of races on the all weather last January but has not managed to get his head in front since. I was hopeful when he ran at Ripon last month thinking that first time blinkers might do the trick but he only finished 5th of 10. He clearly does have some ability and he is slipping down the weights but he looks a bit of a tricky individual. He carries top weight tomorrow in the 4.40 at Haydock and he just may be the type that is best giving weight away to inferior horses. He seems to go on any ground.
There is an evening card at Sandown where the action starts at 5.45 with a maiden for 2 year old fillies. Sir Mark Prescott has an interesting runner in this in Florentia. She is a half sister to no fewer than 8 winners, most of them winners at 2. The in form J-P Guillembert has the ride.
I tipped Ascot Lime when he ran at Sandown last month but he came second. He has gone up 4 lbs for that defeat which makes me a bit wary about him back at the Esher track tomorrow for the 7.55. He is getting a bit expensive to follow.
On Friday there is an evening meeting at Newmarket where the opening race at 5.50 is a maiden with 19 unraced 2 year olds. David Elsworth has Highland River in this. He trained both the sire and the dam so should know something about the family!
By Command was an impressive winner of a Windsor maiden on his first start this season but then finished last of the 5 runners when upped in class at Lingfield in the Derby Trial there. His win at Windsor was on good to soft so the fast ground at Lingfield may not have been ideal. He has not run since 10 May so may have had a bit of a problem. He won first time out this season though so goes well fresh. He runs in the Newmarket 7.50 on Friday.
Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Ruth Harris.
The next update will be on Friday evening.
ahorse 