Today we head to Newbury, Doncaster and Fairyhouse with eight runners across the three meetings.
At Newbury, first up is Fidelio Vallis in the Handicap Chase at 12.40pm. He is ridden for the first time by Megan Fox, taking off a handy seven pounds. Best of luck to her on her first ride for me. He’s ready to start without being fully wound up and hopefully he can run a nice race.
Next is Hubrikso in the Handicap Hurdle at 1.54pm. He is a lovely horse who is new to me. He’s had a long time of the track. We will find out more about him today but I’m absolutely certain that he will need the run, but he’s a horse worth following this season I believe.
Our final runner at Newbury is Queens Gamble in the Gerry Feilden at 2.25pm, who is a mare that is hugely exciting. She unbeaten over hurdles. This is a really tough race, it’s a deep renewal in my opinion but I think she’s well up to the task of running a really smart race. I’m looking forward to her getting out the track, this has been the plan for sometime.
Up at Doncaster our first runner is Swallowfields in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 12.52pm. She was a little bit disappointing on debut for me in the spring, I thought she’d run slightly better than that but she probably just got stuck on slow ground that day, being a young immature horse. Her schooling has got better and I’d like to think she can run a nice race. Whether she’s sharp enough to win a race like this first time out I’m not sure but she’s definitely fit enough and hopefully she can run a nice race.
Next up is Nordic Tiger in the Handicap Hurdle at 1.27pm, who has been an absolute star for us so far in his career. He won three races last season all with Alice on board, she’s struck up a great relationship with him and is back in the plate today. This looks a competitive race but I think he’s improved a little bit. He will have needed too but he won’t lack for fitness and should run a very good race.
Slugger is next in the Handicap Hurdle at 2.02pm, who won nicely at Carlisle last time out when he got an un-pestered lead. I think it’ll be a little more tricky for him today with horses around him that will want to go forward but I think the track will suit as will the good ground and he seems in really good form.
Finally at Doncaster is Girl Of Gold in the Fillies Juvenile Bumper. She will need to build on her debut effort but I think she can and I’d like to think she has an each way chance in this race if she does.
Over at Fairyhouse, we run Givemefive in the WillowWarm Hurdle at 1.55pm, who now are my horses at Newcastle are not running will now be ridden by Paul O’Brien. This is a tough assignment for him but he’s used to running in tough races. Better ground than when he last went to Ireland is a big positive. He’s in fantastic form, I couldn’t be happier with him and whilst this is a really tough race I’m sure he’ll give a good account of himself as he always does.