Ticking Along

After a good campaign over hurdles, we ran See The Eagle Fly back on the Flat at Catterick on Saturday 29^th May.  We left the tongue strap off on this occasion and hopes were high as she was backed into favouritism.  Having been handily positioned throughout, she weakened disappointingly quickly after briefly hitting the front approaching the final two furlongs, beating just a couple home. Following a disappointing run at Catterick, we gave her another go on the Flat at Kempton on Wednesday evening, upping her to 2m and trying blinkers in place of cheekpieces.  We also reverted to more patient tactics, and she found herself disputing last position, taking an enthusiastic grip in a steadily-run affair.  That lack of pace meant she was poorly placed when the tempo did quicken and she was unable to get competitive up the straight, the race dominated by those ridden handily.  She may switch back to hurdles now but is likely to head for the next sale.

Flash de Clerval returned to action at Fontwell the following afternoon, 151 days after pulling up over fences at Market Rasen.  Starting back over hurdles in a first-time tongue tie, he was held up towards the rear in a competitive 15-runner field.  Coming off the bridle having hit three out, he found the leaders getting away from him and was not given a hard time thereafter.  This run hopefully serving as a confidence booster moving forward.

Neverbeen To Paris is another horse we have been trying on the Flat of late and he took his chance over 1m6f at Yarmouth on 1^st June.  Bogged down in the soft ground at Goodwood on his previous start, he settled chasing the leaders in a race run at a sound gallop from the outset.  Losing his place as he came off the bridle three furlongs out, he looked likely to finish nearer last than first before rallying strongly under pressure, getting back up to snatch 2nd close home. This run shows he should be capable of winning a similar event and we may well try him back up in trip next time.

Our most recent jumps runner was Breaking Waves who ran in the 2m2½f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on a day when most eyes were on the Oaks at Epsom.  Dropping back in trip, he was ridden more patiently on this occasion and made promising headway to dispute third as the field swung into the home straight.  However, when those in and around him kicked, he found himself tapped for speed and could only plug on at the one pace to take 4th.

Having run well at Pontefract when second in April, Warranty made the journey North again on Monday to contest another staying handicap at the West Yorkshire venue.  Sent straight to the front by Edward Greatrex, he wound the pace up with five furlongs to race but was unable to shake off his four rivals, being headed two furlongs out.  To his credit he tried to rally up the straight but couldn’t quite cling on to a place, weakening into fourth deep inside the final furlong.  There is another good option back at the same venue later in the month which we will likely aim him for.

We have just the one entry upcoming and that is Waterlefe Getaway at Uttoxeter next Wednesday, 16^th June.  Only sixth of seven on last month’s handicap debut at Southwell, she should appreciate dropping in grade and racing against her own sex.

Until next week...