A QUIET COUPLE OF WEEKS

03-02-2017

THIS WEEK We are due to have a quiet couple of weeks with no runners, due to perhaps our horses not firing in the last week or two.  The ground has gone very heavy and it gives us a chance to freshen the horses up.  We have run bloods off all the horses and they are all fine which is great news.  There have been one or two with mucus in the tracheal washes but neutrophils are low which means they are healthy.  We can steady away for a couple of weeks to get them all bouncing, before kicking on again. Until then there is very little news left to report for the time being... REPORTS Dara's Present ran a race full of promise, to finish 6th at Doncaster last Friday.  He jumped off in front under jockey Wayne Hutchinson and was pressed for the lead from an early stage.  Dara was quite keen throughout the contest, but came to 3 out with every chance.  He produced a big lead to go to the front, but was soon swallowed up by some stronger travelling rivals.  Wayne wasn’t hard on him, eventually finishing 6th.  He shaped nicely for much of the contest but needs to relax better to fulfil his potential.  He will be ridden with more restraint next time. Bigmartre finished 8th at Cheltenham on Saturday.  He was given a positive ride by Davy Russell and his early jumping meant he found himself in front.  Down the back straight he didn’t seem to be travelling with his usual zest, but stuck at it to stay in contention coming down the hill.  As the field quickened at the bottom of the hill, BigM could only plug on to finish down the field in 8th.  This run was well below his best and we know he is capable of far better. ENTRIES Charlemar is set to have his next start at Doncaster on Thursday.  He ran well on his last start in the Tolworth Hurdle, particularly as the testing ground proved to be against him.  He now switches back to a sounder surface on a left handed track, which we know suits him very well.  He is entered over 2m and 2m 4f, but is more likely to take in the 2m race as the penalty structure is more favourable.  He has come out of Sandown in good form and he’s ready to go again. Until next week...