Good luck with The Squire, me old loves. Let's hope he returns, to the fray, refreshed and in good health.
Must say at lovely Lingers tomorrow there is one that catches my eye – PAST MASTER (1.30). He’s been off the bally track for some 805 days and hasn’t run since he was a 2YO but when he did run in a pair of maidens it was well, well above average events at Sandown and Salisbury and he finished very close, or beat, animals who have gone onto win Pattern races or be rated in the 90s and 100s. Tomorrow sees he run in a far weaker maiden heat and meet, it would appear, nothing of that class. The fact that connections of the calibre of Mr Candy (and he is also a part owner so it’s not just a case of him being the hired help) are preserving with this one also speaks volumes and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see Past Master oblige tomorrow before, if remaining sound, going onto better things.
His pedigree also inspires confidence as the dam was a winner for Sir Henry and she’s already produced winners and a filly placed at Listed level. Also Past Master wasn’t cheap costing £210,000 back in ’14.
The obvious negatives are that the old boy has clearly had his problems, hence the time off, and you do have to take his fitness on trust – don’t worry I’m not going to deploy that terrible forum cliché and announce, ‘I’ve been told…’.
However, all in all I think Past Master a most intriguing runner tomorrow and look forward to seeing how those bookie chappies react re his reappearance.
Good luck, crew.
