Opening Meeting at Cheltenham

Docpickedme made his debut for the yard over hurdles at Aintree on Saturday.  He had been showing plenty of ability at home and we were looking forward to getting started with him.  It was a small field and in conditions that we felt would suit him very well.  He jumped and travelled with ease and coming to 2 out he looked to have every chance.  As they came to the last the eventual winner looked to be still going very easily and Docpickedme had started to get a little tired.  He ran on in good style to finish a solid 2nd.  This was a promising debut and we were very happy with this first run.  He is very much a staying type for the future, so we will look to run him in similar conditions over two and half miles next time out in three to four week’s time.

Shantou Vow lined up at Ffos Las on Sunday in a race that looked a good opportunity on paper for him.  He jumped and travelled with ease as there wasn’t much of a pace on.  Turning out the back he looked to have every chance but when they quickened up he just got caught for toe and just stayed on at the same pace to finish fifth.  He was having to carry top weight in very soft conditions which may have found him out.  We will freshen him up now and look to run him again in a similar sort of event in ground that is perhaps not so testing next time.

Neverbeen to Paris ran in a very competitive Class 2 at Kempton Park on Monday, but in conditions that were in his favour.  The trip was a little bit on the short side, but he had course and distance winning form and he was ready to run.  He was slow to jump at his hurdles and he could never hold his position, so he got further back than ideal.  Turning out the back he was too far back to make an impression but galloped on home passing a couple. Bryony reported that he was hanging quite badly left and advised to go with headgear next time out and on a left handed track.  We will look to freshen him up now and find a similar sort of opportunity in three or four week’s time.

Anemoi started his chase career at Chepstow on Monday in fine style.  We were looking forward to starting him over the bigger obstacles and were delighted with his comeback run a few weeks ago after a long lay off.  There wasn’t any pace on so we had to make our own running, which then meant that he had a good look around in front!  His jumping was class for a novice and all the way up the home straight he was trying to shake them off.  His first and only mistake was at the second last which meant he lost a position, but he was very brave at the last putting in a proper good jump.  He then managed to quicken up and go on and win the race in game fashion.  He very much looks a chaser and we look forward to freshening him up and going again in a similar sort of race in a month’s time.

She’soneofourown made a promising first start over hurdles at Huntingdon on Tuesday.  She had been schooling well at home and there were a couple of good yard sticks in the race that had been running well over hurdles.  The favourite made the running and we were able to sit second.  She jumped and travelled extremely well.  Turning in she just started to come off the bridle and from there on in she just galloped home at the same pace.  She may have finished 2nd had she not made a bad mistake at the last, but she will have learnt plenty and we look forward to running her under similar conditions in about 4 week’s time.

Captain Tommy took a trip to Bangor on Wednesday so that he could take his chance in a competitive Class 2.  He had run well over course and distance on his penultimate start and we felt the conditions would suit him well.  There was plenty of pace on and he settled in a lovely position at halfway.  He jumped very well throughout bar the one fence on the first circuit where he just went through the top of it.  Coming to the last he looked to have every chance but just missed it slightly, which cost his chance of winning unfortunately.  He came home a gallant runner up and we were thrilled with the result.  He is making good strides now as a novice chaser and we will look to run him in a similar sort of event in a month’s time.

Last seasons' festival hero Simply The Betts has been in scintillating form at home and we are really looking forward to running him tomorrow in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.  He feels like he's improved in his work at home and is a stronger horse for the Summer break.  He is a dual course and distance winner and is very confident around the track, but he's going to have to improve to win off of a mark of 157.  We could not have him in better form and we're looking forward to the race.

New recruit this summer; Poldark Cross has been declared to run in the novices' hurdle at Wetherby tomorrow.  He is a really likeable type with a fantastic attitude.   He is a staying type in the making and we will start him off in this novice hurdle over two and half miles.  We should learn lots about him and he will only approve for going 3 miles in handicaps later in the season.

Waterlefe Getaway has been declared to run in the novices' hurdles at Uttoxeter tomorrow over 2 miles.  She has come out of her last race in good form and she has shown a couple of really nice runs around the track, so we are looking forward to taking her back there.  This will be her third run over hurdles and she should improve for a break as well as a step up in trip in time.  Hopefully she can take another step forward and run a nice race.

Jammy George has come out of his first run in good form and has been declared for the 3 mile handicap chase on the same card at Uttoxeter tomorrow.  He should have gained a lot of confidence from the last run and we feel that over 3 miles in his conditions, he can run a big race.  It looks like a good opportunity on paper, and his jumping was much better last time.   Hopefully he can get his head in front over the bigger obstacles very soon.

New addition to the yard; Torigni has been declared in the handicap hurdle over 2 miles at Wetherby tomorrow, our 5th runner on the day.  He is a sharp type that has been working nicely at home.  He’s been schooling very well and we're very much looking forward having our first runner for the well known 'Double Green' connections.  We are not sure about his handicap mark, so we will learn a lot in this race.  However 2 miles round a galloping track should suit him nicely.

Rouge Vif is in tremendous form after his seasonal debut at Cheltenham the other day.  It was a magnificent win off top weight in a handicap and he now steps up in company into a Grade 2 on Sunday.  He schooled extremely well this week with Gavin back on board.  We are hugely excited about his chance in the Shloer on what should be ideal ground conditions for him.

See the Eagle Fly holds 2 upcoming entries.  She has been training nicely since her win and we're looking forward to running her again.  She is likely to go for the fillies race at Leicester on Monday before a tilt at the Aintree Listed race for fillies and mares in December.  Hopefully she can take a step forward and show us that she's good enough for a big day out.

Warranty has been entered in 2 juvenile hurdles next week which will be his first run since joining the yard this summer.  He is a scopey, athletic type who stayed very well on the flat.  He's been in very good form at home and although he took a bit of time to learn to jump, he's ready for his debut.  He will be suited to galloping tracks as he won over two miles on the flat.  He should jump a fence one day as well and we are really excited to get him started.