Sunday 14 March 2010

hitting the crossbar..


Isla Pearl Fisher (pictured) put up a much improved effort to finish 4th of 9 at Carlisle on Thursday, after a few sketchy jumps early on he seemed to settle into a rhythm and hopefully he is now getting the hang of the job, we will look for a suitable handicap for him. After IPF's race I walked the course and found the ground rough and inconsistent so chickened out of running Four Fiddlers, I took a bit of flak but its important to follow one's convicitions in these circumstances. On Saturday at the Buccleuch p2p we had plenty of potential drama with Uncle Jamie riding and Lucy taking 3 outside rides, Almost Blue ran very well for Jamie considering he had been confined to his stable for most of the week, they finished a close 3rd, Lucy had two seconds, on Lesley Cottage in the Mares Maiden and Floreana in the Ladies Open, the latter just beaten a head. She then followed her Uncle home on Sorkatcheguy in the NPPA race to finish a good 5th after a two year absence. Luckily the main drama of the afternoon involved Mrs A leaving her binoculars in the Ladies loo, fortunately they were re-united by the end of the day.

This week we will sadly not be making our annual pilgrimage to the Cotswolds, we hope to have a couple of important runners at Hexham on Thursday if there is a little rain (Seeking Power and Native Coll) and at this stage there is little time to take the eye off the ball. Following that we should be represented at Lanark on Saturday and perhaps Newcastle on the same day, thereafter it is Carlisle next Sunday and Kelso on Monday.

Well, what's going to win at Cheltenham? who knows but spring like conditions could turn a lot of recent form on its head, either way I like the chances of Somersby and Khyber Kim on Tuesday and later that afternoon David Pipe's "banker" The Package might get a fright from Calgary Bay. If one wanted to oppose the awesome Dunguib in the opener then Oscar Whisky might be the one and in the Mares race later Voler la Vedette could upset her compatriot favourite Quevega. On Wednesday Diamond Harry might be good value to overturn the Henderson hotpots in the RSA Chase and everyone in the North will be hoping Kalahari King can lift the Champion Chase.... hmm that's a few trainers' weeks ruined having had the NWA kiss of death, win or lose let's hope for a great week's racing and all home safe and sound....

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