Saturday July 9th.

Can you have too much good racing?

I would have said............NO!................but this day's racing put some doubt in my mind.

Ascot, Chester, Newmarket and York in the afternoon and if your appetite hadn't been sated by the time (6.05) the Saltmarsh Partnership Handicap at Ascot well Hamilton had already started at 6.00 and Salisbury was to follow at 6.15.............Burp!!

Perhaps Sunday should be used more.

Lots of competitive handicaps and there were two or three interesting runs.

The first of these was in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. LOVELACE, trained by David Nicholls and ridden by his boy, Adrian, missed the break and then raced very keenly, he was taken over to the far rail where he didn't have the clearest of runs, he was then switched and finished with a flourish up the hill. It was a run that suggested that the horse is in good form, if a little fresh after a two-month break. He has won over seven furlongs and a mile and he has entries in two heritage handicaps in the coming weeks, a seven furlong event at Ascot and one over a mile at Goodwood. Probably worth looking at if he takes up either or both entries.


The John Smith's at York was won in impressive style by Green Destiny and there was one particular performance that caught most people's eye, that was by Saptadi, and to listen to some all he has to do is to turn up at York next month to take the Ebor. I'm looking further back in the field to two Richard Fahey runners. DEMOLITION  was making his seasonal debut and he was making ground from the back of the field shortly after they entered the straight but he ran into a wall of horses and wasn't persevered with afterwards. He is running off a mark in the low nineties at the moment, approximately 10lbs. higher than his best winning effort. He hasn't any early closing entries at the moment but if the handicapper cuts him a bit of slack I'm sure his trainer can place him to win. PLEASANT DAY who finished one place behind his stable companion, and ran a very similar race to him, was carrying a 5lbs. penalty for a win at Ripon. He has an entry for a mile heritage handicap at Goodwood but there is a possibility he won't get into that, but again this run can be forgotten and an eye should be kept on this one's entries.


Another horse that has an entry in that Goodwood heritage handicap is CAPTAIN BERTIE, who was made favourite for the Class 3 8f. handicap at York 3.55.,brought wide on to the stand rail he was making a nice run when hampered, he lost all chance and Eddie Ahern just accepted the situation. He has been in good form of late but he will probably have to win a race in the next week or two if he is to get into that Goodwood race.


The last eye-catcher for this posting and guess what? She has an entry in that Goodwood Mile, but is unlikely to get in. BONNIE BRAE is the filly and she ran in the Ascot 4.55, a Class 3 0-90 handicap over seven furlongs. Adam Kirby had her held up at the back of the field, going well, but when he made his move he just caught the heels of SONG OF THE SIREN, almost bringing that horse down, and lost a lot of momentum, he still finished strongly but the chance had gone. Definitely unlucky but I'm not certain she would have won. She certainly looks capable of winning a race off this mark (86).


Bye for now.