Just the one bet for me today – Weather Front in the 4:00 at Carlisle, a horse I tried to buy back in February and regretted not having bid more as I drove home. I met up with Henry Cecil at the February sale at Tattersalls this year. Henry had looked at a lot of horses, and Weather Front was …
Roll on the jumps
I’m pretty much done for the flat season now and looking to the jumpers. Mon Michel was down to run tomorrow, but he doesn’t stand his ground after working moderately midweek – we think he’s ok but just needs a little more time. My first runner of the jumps season proper will probably be Ours at Chepstow on Wednesday, and …
Year of the rabbit
I added another to the string recently as the CSH bought a Mizzen Mast filly at Keeneland. The filly is a full sister to Mystery Sail, who beat Lord Peter Flint in her only start at Newbury – that race was only a couple of hours before the Keeneland auction. She was cheap, partly because she had a chip on …
A new one for the string
I added another horse to my string today – Max One Two Three, who won so well at York last time. I’ve been eyeing her up for a while I was intending to try and buy her before the York race but I didn’t get around to it – I had a decent bet on her but the price went …
Heaven knows what I’ll back today
It’s a great day’s racing today, with the afternoon highlight for me the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. This race has thrown up the Derby winner three times in recent years – in a hot contest I’ll go with City Leader of Brian’s, who is a half brother to a previous winner of this race and may be improving. In …
Betty baby
A debutante from a new trainer for me today as Bet Noir comes out in the 2:20 at Donny. She is owned by a syndicate made up of members of the Betfair senior management – I have 1/4 of her. Walter has said from the start that she is a backward type and is unlikely to win this year so I’m not …
Winner is not my choice
Lilac Moon ran well enough in third last night. She handled the surface well and was running on again at the finish – she was drawn 13 of 13 which is a tough place to be at Wolver and she may just have needed it. In the Dewhurst today I can’t see past New Approach. He’ll handle the ground and …
The Moon is out
Lilac Moon runs for me in the 8:55 at Wolver tonight. We claimed her from a mile claimer at Carlisle and sent her to Nicky Vaughan – Mick liked the look of her profile beforehand and she won well enough. From breeding and running we think she should get a little further and she runs over 9 1/2 furlongs tonight. …
Nick Gifford stable visit
I visited Nick Gifford€™s yard in Findon on Wednesday morning to catch up with news of the four horses owned by the Core Strength syndicate of which Bert forms a third. The horses are all five year old geldings who were selected with a long term perspective and there has been little racecourse action from them as yet €“ Better …
Today’s fancies
Quite a few old favourites running today, and I’ll be having a few bets. I spent a fair bit of time with Pete C-H last week, and he runs Spirit of Sharjah in the first at Ascot. From what I’ve heard of the horse I give him a small edge over his principal opponent Captain Gerrard, another favourite of mine and a …