Champions Day

Capital Venture (courtesy of Dennis Penny)

An average sort of day at the office yesterday, Capital Venture jumped nicely on his hurdling debut but the tacky ground blunted his cruising speed a little and he finished midfield, he will come on hugely for this experience.  The Paddy Premium's training had an interupted pattern since his run at Perth but he jumped and travelled well until they turned for home and he should also improve.  Northern Flame did little to silence his doubters looking unenthusiastic from flagfall, but he ran to the line and we will run him again soon.  Forcefield seemed to appreciate being ridden a bit handier but was on and off the bridle finishing mid-div in the end, hopefully the handicapper will give him a chance soon, 6 races later he is still paying the penalty of finishing within 16 lengths of the Grand National winner Ballabrigs.  All ate up and sound this morning so plenty to look forward to.
A magnificent day's racing at Ascot and the wonderful Frankel duly made it 9 out of 9; it was a fantastic starting point for the new "Champions Day" concept and it gives RFC a great mandate going forward as many sceptics (including myself) were hugely encouraged by the sheer quality of the racing across the board, they just need Newmarket to release a couple of 2yo Group Ones and perhaps tweak the date and they will be there, I think it proves that if you put up the money the horses will come. The quality racing fortunately overshadowed the whip fiasco but the penalties imposed on Christophe Soumillon did highlight the absurdity of the detail of the rules and the manner of their introduction.  Sadly this typifies so much that emanates from the BHA, like it or not the stakeholders have no confidence left and the embattled Chairman sounded pretty desperate when interviewed yesterday by Nick Luck (listen here), however everyone must take heart from the success of yesterday, I reiterate my thoughts of last month that where there is a sport that provides so much fun and excitement to so many people the laws of supply and demand will ensure it succeeds in the long term.  I've never known Kelso as busy as yesterday and there are over 250 entries at Carlisle on Thursday, including two from here, Sydney Cove and Isla Pearl Fisher..........

Isla Pearl Fisher