It was a very frustrating week at Chester last week but there were some over noteworthy performances in defeat. Although Michael had the run of the race on Blaise Chorus, and looked for a moment like he'd nicked it, she was still well clear of the remainder when second in Cheshire Oaks. The winner is very highly thought of, but our filly clearly relished the step up in trip and tried her heart out. She is still a maiden so the aim is to win a race and then go from there, however she now has that all important black type. Tastahil ran another fantastic race in the Chester Cup. He was the only horse who could keep tabs on the winner, even though he was conceding lumps of weight and was even coming back at the finish. Richard thought it was his best performance to date which bodes well for the season. He has come home as grumpy as ever but looking none the worse for his exertions. Sea Odyssey was a little bit unlucky in his race. He had a bad draw and had to use up energy to get into the race, then rounding the home bend he slipped and it took him time to get balanced and get going again. In the circumstances he did very well to finish second. He is a horse who is blessed with natural speed and should have no problem winning next time out. Maqaraat was well beaten in second in the Dee Stakes but the race will have taught him a lot as he was still green and wasn't really helping Richard. He is another who is still a maiden and will have no problem picking up a race before being stepped up in class again. Fadhaa was run out of it on the line in his race having looked all over the winner. He is another who is still learning and is very much a horse who will improve during the season.
Although everything looked to be in his favour Captain Bertie probably found the race came a bit too soon after his excellent effort in the Esher Cup. He also wouldn't let himself down on the quick ground. Will still retain plenty of faith in him and when he gets his conditions he will be a high class three year old handicapper. Michael felt Slumber just struggled with the track in the Chester Vase. He said he literally had to drag him round the last bend when he should have been trying to make his challenge. It was only his third run and he will have learnt from it. He is clearly a decent horse, although the Derby is now out of the question.
We move onto the usually Monday night action at Windsor where we have three runners. In the five furlong maiden our representative is Angels Will Fall (by Acclamation). She has been going nicely at home and we are hopeful she can become our first two year old winner of the season. Fine Threads runs in a mile and a quarter handicap. If the rain we have had over the weekend has got in it will suit her down to the ground. Pivot Bridge will also appreciate a bit of cut when he runs in the mile handicap. The form of his run at Nottingham is working out well and hopefully he can get his head in front.
On Tuesday Hail Promenader and Power Punch are in at Beverley, and hopefully Robert Winston can get the same tune out of Hail Promenader he did at Pontefract. Power Punch is another who probably needs his mind making up for him and Robert is the best man to do it. We run another nice two year old filly at Warwick in the shape of Sajwah (by Exceed and Excel). Although she is quite tall and leggy she has been showing plenty of dash on the gallops and is pictured on the nearside below.