The sun has been shining and the horses have been working hard in preparation for the big meetings at Newbury and Newmarket. Rimth is heading for the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury, a course where we’ve had some good times. We think she’ll get the 7f, and although the run will be needed to blow away the cobwebs, we hope she has the class to put up a fight. Lily Again goes for the Nell Gywn at Newmarket, and she seems to have trained well after a winter break. We think the track will suit her, and we’re praying for the ground to be firm. Firmer ground has been her most effective surface, and we'd be hopeful if conditions were to suit.
Other than the two mentioned above, we’re mostly sending our juveniles to Newmarket and Newbury. Strategic Bid has been working very promisingly in the past few weeks, and he goes for the Wood Ditton. We don’t know if he’ll be all guns blazing first time out, but we’re hopeful of a good show. Commissar has entries at both Newmarket and Newbury in potentially hot races. He seems to go well on the gallops, and we hope he can translate this to the track as we’ve admired him for a while. Flashbang will improve a lot from her last run, where she’ll be suited by the track. Vicona, Pinch of Posh, and Cheherezard will come on from their respective races, and we’ll know a lot more about them afterwards.
Flodden should take to the Kempton all-weather surface, as should Doc Hay. We’ve done as much as we can with the latter, and we’re expecting him to go close.
Anthony Dunkley