I’ve been ringing around this morning and I’m feeling a sense of optimism from some of my trainers. Pete’s horses haven’t been going as well as usual, but I think they are picking up now. Brian is starting to have a few winners, and Tom’s horses seem to be in decent shape.
I’ve decided to leave Bouguereau in the Derby for now. If the going comes up quick then he won’t run, but there’s a great chance that it won’t.
I’d take a lot of heart for Bouguereau if Whistledownwind runs well today – Pete thinks he’ll run a very good race. He has to beat City Leader, a horse Harry tells me (in the comments section) is a mortgage job. I had heard on the grapevine that City Leader had done an excellent piece of work on the gallops recently. Whistledownwind ran rather in snatches last time, but he clearly has an engine – he’s getting 5lb from City Leader. I don’t think I can bring myself to have a bet.
In the last at Sandown tonight Zaskar runs for Tom Dascombe. I am a huge fan of this filly – she has a fantastic turn of foot. She’s also a bit of a tricky type and could play up and throw a race. I think she’s worth following.
I’ll have a small bet on Gunfighter in the second at Ayr.