A SMART SUCCESS

01-06-2018

THIS WEEK Time has been rolling on here as we head out in to the summer.  It's been lovely and warm on the whole and the grass has been shooting up so all the horses out in the fields have been having a great time.  We've had very few runners, in fact just 10 so far this season with 3 winners from those in total, so we're still operating at a healthy strike rate.  The most recent win was a very smart debut victory from a new recruit, Genius, who we saw winning quite decisively at Southwell last week.  This week has been a lot quieter but there's still plenty in store as we head in to June... Introducing 'Hattie Hopkinson' a recent purchase for next seasons' Harry Whittington Racing Club - get in touch for further details on how to join info@harrywhittington.co.uk REPORTS Cold March finished 7th at Aintree last Friday.  He was keen over the first 3 fences, but soon settled into a nice rhythm.  The pace was only steady early on, but it soon picked up going into the final circuit.  He made a bad mistake at the 11th and struggled to get on terms from there, eventually finishing 7th.  He has come out of the race in good order and could step up in trip next time. Charlie Papa Lima was pulled up on his latest start at Huntingdon last Tuesday.  He’d run a blinder on chase debut at Taunton last month and we were expecting him to go close here, but that didn’t materialise.  He wasn’t traveling from an early stage and didn’t jump as well as he had at Taunton.  He lost his position on the final circuit and was eventually pulled up in the home straight.  The run was too bad to be true and he scoped dirty after the race, which explains the below par performance.  He will be given some time to get over it and will be aimed at something late in June. Genius got his career off to the perfect start with an impressive win at Southwell last Wednesday.  It was a competitive 7 runner affair on paper, but they went no gallop early on.  He was switched off nicely at the back and travelled well throughout.  The race developed leaving the back straight and Genius made smooth headway to get onto the heels of the leaders.  He quickened up well in the straight, hit the front with 2 furlongs to go and although he was green in front, he stuck on well to win by a cosy 2 lengths.  This was a very likeable debut and he’s a horse with a big future. Spirit of Rome produced her best run to date to finish 3rd at Fontwell on Sunday.  She relaxed nicely in mid division and put in her best round of jumping so far.  The race was run at a good gallop and the field started to thin out on the final circuit.  Spirit of Rome cruised into contention turning for home and looked a major player, but she couldn't pick up as well as the front pair.  To her credit she battled on well to hold onto 3rd late on.  She’s been a very consistent performer this season and The Harry Whittington Racing Club have had a lot of fun with her. ENTRIES Guiding Stars holds multiple entries in the coming days and is set to make his hurdles debut soon.  He produced a career best at Market Rasen last time and the form of that race is working out nicely.  He is from a good jumping family, his schooling has been good and we are looking forward to seeing him out over hurdles. Salto Chisco is set to make his seasonal reappearance at either Newton Abbot on Monday or Southwell on Tuesday.  He was a superstar for us last season in winning 3 races and still looks reasonably treated over both sets of obstacles for this coming summer.  He’s in good form at home, but normally needs his first run after an absence. Hoke Colburn is set to make his chase debut at Bangor on Tuesday.  He didn’t get home over 3 miles last time, so steps back in trip to 2 and a half here.  He’s from a family of chasers and his schooling has been good.  Hopefully he can progress over fences. Djin Conti holds multiple entries this week and is set to have his second hurdles start of the season.  He was a gutsy winner at Wincanton in early May and has been given an opening mark of 117.  He is in good form at home, jumps very well and should be very competitive wherever he goes. Perfect Myth is set to have her 4th and final bumper run at Southwell on Tuesday.  She ran well in a competitive race at Ludlow last time out and is capable of getting competitive again.  She’s in good form and appreciates this better ground. Boychick is a 68 rated son of Holy Roman Emperor, who has joined the yard to go hurdling.  He has won 5 of his 24 starts on the flat and stays 1m 3f.  He will make his hurdles debut in the coming days. Until next week...