ENVISAGING THE FUTURE

10-08-2018

THIS WEEK We’ve had a relatively quiet few weeks with very few runners to report out on the track.  The temperatures have remained high and most of the winter horses are now progressing from road work to hack cantering.  The gallop is riding well and we’re absolutely delighted with the improvements.  The new log cabin style owners room is on its way and we’re still dreaming of the exciting season ahead...   REPORTS Boychick ran a solid race to finish 4th at Newton Abbot last week.  He tracked the pace under a positive ride from Harry Bannister and enjoyed the switch back to regular hurdles.  He produced his tidiest display of jumping to date and travelled well for the most part, but as the pace quickened he got caught flat footed on the rain softened ground.  He showed a good attitude to stay on and take 4th after the last.  This was a solid handicap debut on ground that wasn’t ideal. Salto Chisco produced a career best, to finish 2nd at Bangor on Friday.  It is a sharp track, so Harry rode him slightly closer to the pace on this occasion and Salto seemed to really enjoy it.  He travelled sweetly, jumped well and looked a major player throughout the contest.  Jumping 3 out Volvalien slipped the field, but Salto made good ground to challenge coming to the second last.  He got on terms with the leader but couldn’t get past, eventually going down to the long time leader by just over a length. This was a quality display and the pair finished 12 lengths clear of the rest. The handicapper then reacted and raised Salto 4lbs over both hurdles and fences.  So we searched for what looked to be a great opportunity on paper where he would be “4lbs well in”, this came up at Newton Abbot on Monday where he took his chance once again.  There was a very strong pace early and this caught Salto out a bit.  He was slow over the first two hurdles, but soon got into a rhythm.  He made headway down the back straight and made his way into mid division, only to get bumped at a crucial time.  He stuck on well but couldn’t get to the impressive winner, eventually finishing third.  This was another cracking run from the consistent 10yo, who will now be freshened up for his next run. ENTRIES Boychick holds entries at Newton Abbot and Stratford in the coming days.  He ran well at Newton Abbot last month to finish 4th and we are hopeful of another solid run from this consistent gelding.  The ground was a bit soft for him last time. Viognier finished an improved 5th when stepped up in trip at Worcester last month and is likely to step up in trip again.  She holds multiple entries when the jumps season break finishes and should be even more competitive off her revised mark of 89.     SHARES IN THE HARRY WHITTINGTON RACING CLUB 2018-19 ARE NOW AVAILABLE...   THIS SEASONS' CLUB PROSPECTS... HATTIE HOPKINSON Bought for £14k at the Horses In Training at Goffs at the end of May.  She is a lovely scopey, athletic filly with a very good pedigree and a cracking name.  She is a half Sister to Welsh National winner Monbeg Dude and there is black type all through the page.  Her Sire Jeremy boasts one of the best strike rates of winners to runners and was also the Sire of Our Connor.  She ran in 2 English point to points the Spring finishing placed 2nd and 4th.  She is a filly that will strengthen up plenty for a break this Summer and has the potential to make up into a smart filly in novice hurdles.  She will most likely start off in a bumper at the beginning of October. ECLAT DES BIEFFES Bought for £5k privately in Ireland is a 4 yo Gelding who has ran twice in two point to points where he jumped well, showed lots of speed and wasn't staying the 3 miles.  He has a good pedigree with lots of flat winners in the page.  Therefore the plan would be to drop him back into a 2 mile bumper in late September followed by a Winter of 2 mile novice hurdling.  He is a sharp, good looking athletic type by Enrique who is the Sire of Binocular.   Until next week...