MORE TO REPORT

17-03-2017

THIS WEEK We hope you've all been enjoying the sunshine wherever you were this week.  We were lucky enough to spend a few days at The Cheltenham Festival and if you've been following the action there too we hope you've backed a few winners!  So with the final show down later today there's still plenty to look forward to, we've also got an exciting few days lined up with lots more runners for HWR... REPORTS Blandfords Gunner finished 5th at Sandown on Friday.  He got too far back from an early stage and wasn't able to make the ground back up.  He jumped well on the whole and ran right through the line.  The handicapper has dropped him to a mark of 120, which gives us more options moving forwards. Bigmartre returned to form with a good 6th in the Imperial Cup on Saturday.  He made the running under jockey Jerry McGrath and jumped very well throughout the contest.  He lead the field to the 2nd last, was headed but stuck on well to go down by just the 6 lengths.  He will come on fitness wise from this and will be aimed at the Aintree festival next, where he's likely to step up in trip. Salto Chisco was pulled up at Market Rasen on Sunday.  He travelled well for much of the contest, before stopping quickly going onto the final circuit.  Unfortunately he burst a blood vessel and will need some time to recover before heading to the track again. Affaire D'Honneur finished a well held 4th at Market Rasen on Sunday.  He was staying on nicely over 2m 4f last time out and we were hopeful the step up to 3m would suit.  Unfortunately the race became very tactical and turned into a bit of a sprint.  Affaire got caught flat footed when the pace increased, but plugged on well to grab 4th on the line.  He should be suited by a more galloping circuit on better ground next. Star Tackle ran another solid race to finish 3rd at Chepstow on Monday.  He's raced keenly on both starts this year and not got home, so the drop back in trip and switch in tactics was set to suit.  He settled nicely off the pace and moved smoothly into contention, before getting outpaced in the straight.  He stayed on nicely to come home in 3rd.  It was another encouraging run and a nice stepping stone towards his career as a chaser. Regal Gait ran a career best to finish 2nd at Stratford on Monday.  Nico de Boinville gave him a positive ride and put the rest of the field under pressure from an early stage.  Only one danger emerged in the form of the Warren Greatrex trained Attest as the pair swung into the home straight upsides.  Attest headed Regal Gait coming to the last, they both produced good jumps but Regal Gait couldn't get back on terms.  It was another good performance from a very gutsy horse. ENTRIES Charlemar is set to have his first handicap start at Kempton tomorrow.  He ran well at Doncaster last time out, especially considering he wasn't quite right.  A mark of 133 is workable and the step up in trip should suit.  You need some luck to win these handicaps, but he goes there in top form. Zephyros Bleu is set to run at Ffos Las on Sunday.  He was an impressive course and distance winner last time out and steps up in class here.  The galloping track and soft ground clearly suit him but a revised mark of 125 makes things more difficult.  He has only had 2 starts over fences however and there should be more to come from him. Benefit of Luck is set to have his first start for the yard at either Taunton or Southwell on Monday.  He is a free going horse who has been working nicely at home, but he does have his quirks. If he settles, he should run well wherever he goes. Tierra Verde (and VBadge Treat) are entered in a mares bumper at Southwell on Monday.  Tierra Verde is the more likely runner at this stage.  She's a late maturing 6yo who's come to hand in the last few months and is now ready to make her racecourse debut.  She has an excellent attitude and we can't wait to get her going. Hoke Colburn is set to make his handicap debut at Exeter on Tuesday. The step up in trip will suit him and a mark of 113 looks very workable. He does have other options later in the week. Bridge of Cally is set to make his racecourse debut at either Ludlow or Chepstow next week.  He was bought as a store horse in May last year and has come to hand quicker than expected.  He is a scopey horse with lots of quality, but he's not short of speed.  We can't wait to get him going and learn some more about him. Until next week...