Posting this early as I may not get on tomorrow. As some of you will recall my gaffer is in three syndicates that own horses. He will not be a happy bunny on Monday because we are both stuck in an all day workshop (arranged by his boss) which means he cannot go to Pontefract to see one of his beasts run; and one of the others is running at Windsor in the evening. He may be able to wangle a coffee break at 3:20-ish so we can nip across the road to the bookies.
He tells me that he will not be renewing his membership of the syndicate for his jumper Snow Rescue because it is clearly a very slow donkey that barely goes fast enough to outrun the bloke from the glue factory. It was 14th of 15 last time and the other runner pulled up.
His two flat horses are doing much better. The trainers report that both are training well although be advised, Dyna Might missed her last intended run as she kicked a fence when she was let out in the field a couple of weeks back and the vet had to give her bute so she could not race.
Pontefract 3:30: DYNA MIGHT. She won last time at Thirsk when they were running her because five days earlier she had been second at Beverley and they knew the handicapper was going to punish her. She has been raised 7lb for that second plus the win, so winning today is going to require considerable improvement on her part. I told the gaffer after her last race that he should tell the trainer to put a sheepskin noseband on her because she carries her head too high in races so I hope she does not get beaten in a photo!
Looking at the race, the obvious dangers look like Mark Johnston’s Marqoom – may try to make all for Dane O’Neill – and Cornerstone Lad with William Buick booked.
Windsor 7:00: ORITHIA. She finally got her nose in front last time, although another ten yards and she would have been beaten by a 20/1 shot. The worrying thing is yet another jockey change! Two or three times in the past she has dwelt at the start and it seems some jockeys do not listen to the instructions to get a good position early. She was raised 4lb for her victory so she is not overburdened but she is up against older horses here and I am also not sure why they are stepping her up in trip. What they do not want is rain – she does not want it soft.
With Reckless Wave out lame, the obvious one to beat is topweight Saumur, although it was only a five runner affair when it was second last time.
