Sunday's Meetings Fairyhouse N/H 7 Races 1:50-5:05p.m. Cork N/H 8 Races 2:00-5:45p.m. Southwell A/W 7 Races 2:05-5:20p.m. Plumpton N/H 7 Races 2:15-5:30p.m. Ffos Las N/H 6 Races 2:25-5:10p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Thanks Attivo. Fergal decided that this was the best option, softer ground and a track she has won at recently. Big week for me this. I leave these shores for a life of retirement in the Spanish sunshine next Friday and almost by way of a treat both my horses will run before I go. We only leased Jenny for this season and she returns to her proper owner at the end of April so quite likely that this will be her last run in our colours. I have to say that everything to do with the yard has been fantastic and I am certain that the group will have another horse with them in the very near future. If I am being honest, Squire has the look of a horse that is only going to regress. We have campaigned him over the winter on the AW with the view to getting his mark to a point where we could run him at the sort of venues that would suit him and us but sadly his mark has dropped rather than risen. As a result we are looking at a horse that will have opportunities only at tracks like Yarmouth, Bath, Warwick etc which will not suit us. Maybe he needs a change of scenery and it is most likely that we will sell him on at some point this year. I went to see him en route to Lingfield yesterday. He is a gorgeous racehorse with a wonderful temperament and he has given me some of my best life moments . A win on Thursday at Wolverhampton would be an amazing send-off , I him to bits!
cheers stick , surely you'll get bored of all that sun after a year or two ! really appreciate your honesty and sharing the highs and lows of ownership , all the best for Jenny tommorow and Squire on thursday .......
Very well done in getting to retirement and having such well laid plans stick, here's hoping you have a long and wonderful retirement in Spain
Good luck for tomorrow Stick. That looks a brutal race your mare is in at Fos Llas over 3.5 miles on heavy ground. I see Bob Ford is entered and he won this a few years back and was the only finisher in similar conditions. The one I would fear however would be old boy Harry Topper. All the best. Mullins and Elliott share all the entries in the Garde 1 Ryanair at Fairyhouse tomorrow. That's not good for Irish racing long term.
Plumpton 4.20 JUMPING JACK @ 7/4 Three time flat winner for Richard Hughes produced best hurdles effort to date in an Ascot class 2 last week when 4th behind Paul Nicholls talented 134 rated Malaya.Drops down into maiden company here and gets to run off same mark of 115.Only had seven hurdles starts to date and as a 4yo there’s surely further improvement to come.Receives weight all round.
Plumpton 3.45 VADO FORTE @ 4/1 5yo is a different animal since the hood was applied and his form figures since read 2121.The first of those wins at Warwick in January saw him give the runner up 12lb and a 7l beating while his latest start at Taunton in heavy ground saw him give the 2nd 12lb and a 9l beating.Can be expected to improve again as he’s only had the eight career starts,handles plenty of cut and is nicely weighted on 10st4.Talented trainer Tom Lacey is 50% at the track and has a 55% strike rate in past fortnight.Jockey Robbie Dunne is 20% at the track.
Lickpenny Larry 2 45 plum, form of his penultimate race working out well, fav last time, saddle slipped, compo hopefully awaits.... ..
Ffos Las 4.35 BOB FORD e/w @ 10/1 11yo at the veteran stage now and has failed to complete last two starts but adores this track having won two hurdles and two chases here including this race three years back.All those course wins came on heavy ground so conditions no problem and the first time blinkers are fitted.Trainer Richard Newland is 29% here and jockey Tom O’Brien is 25% in past two weeks.
MR ANTOLINI 7/2 Plumpton 3:45 Came out the victor of a titanic battle with Call Me Lord to win the Imperial Cup. Was in receipt of 25lbs from that runner but he is in my view pretty much top drawer. The pair were 9 lengths clear of the third today and for two horses to pull that far clear in a competitive affair such as that speaks volumes. Bargary had to stop riding close home as the horse was hanging into the runner up so he was probably value for a couple more pounds and the handicapper has only put him up six. They train them to be tough at Temple Guiting so he should have another big run in him.
Good write up Stick,I had a good bet on Call Me Lord that day,do you think he should have been awarded the race?
I actually didnt mate, I thought the better horse at the weights on the day won the race. It was a stunning performance by Call Me Lord, if he had won that race on those terms it would have been one of the performances of the season in my book. Talking performances, Jacob was stellar at the stewards enquiry, I was starting to think he had pulled it out of the fire!
Ffos Las 4.00 ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY @ 9/1 8yo point and three times hurdle winner comes with risks(refused to race last twice)but has undoubted ability and has won off 11lb higher in past.Todays mark of 119 is his lowest since scoring off 115 at Warwick last March by 35l.Trainer Sophie Leech does well with these types from other yards and if putting best foot forward he could be bit of value in a race which won’t take much winning.
Morning Stick - I retired a couple of years ago and would respectfully offer some advice - the first 18!months can be tough - switching off a horse is a skill .. doing that with yourself is a big ask as well . So be patient mate and find a couple of things to keep your little grey cells working ..... maybe studying bumper form and reporting back ? All the very best with the future for you and your family - it's been a pleasure !!
Good luck with everything Stick. Enjoy a well earned rest. ps. When horses retire, sometimes they are put to stud...........
