A runner at Chepstow today as Peintre D’Argent comes out for the Pro-claimers.
I saw her a couple of weeks ago when I went up to Manor House Stables. When we claimed her she was very skinny – Nicky thought she might have an ulcer and we put her on the course of anti-ulcer drugs. She’s filled out a lot since then – I don’t think I’d have recognised her if she hadn’t have had her name on her box.
Nicky says she’s pretty fit and we think she’ll relish the extra distance she has today. We’d probably like the ground a little softer and since she’s only worked on an all weather gallop we don’t know how she’ll handle turf anyway, although there’s nothing in her breeding to suggest that she won’t get on with it. With more questions than answers I won’t be having a big bet but I’m positive about a decent showing.
For money I’ll be looking to the 2:00 at Leicester. There are a number of interesting or well bred types in this race, but having spent some time going through them I decided I couldn’t bring myself to back any of them against the relatively cheaply bought Channon trained favourite. Ailsa Carmel ran a decent third at Newbury first time up – she missed the break but made good late headway. That was probably a decent race, and with the experience under her belt she can be expected to break more professionally this time. If the expected improvement comes it will take a decent animal to reel her in first time of asking, and those with experience would probably have to improve considerably.