BACK racing after the recent cold snap and it’s great to get going again after a few lost meetings. Market Rasen going off was a particularly bitter blow as we had Aazza entered there unpenalised - but she’s now gone up 13lbs for her next run!
It’s off to Catterick, where the ground will be pretty sticky after all the frost, so I’m glad HITMAN FRED (1.45) is in the first race. He doesn’t want it that holding so we should get the best of the ground. He’s ten now but ran a cracker winning at Ayr last time and remains in really good order, so fingers-crossed he holds that form and runs well again.
LE CHEVAL NOIR (3.45) runs in the 3m1f novice handicap and has attracted a few negative comments in the Racing Post, which I found a bit surprising. We were actually quite pleased with his comeback run at Kelso last month and just blew up a bit following a long break. Compared to last season he had a lot more zest about him and we went away fairly happy.
We think he can take a step forward from Kelso today, although again the ground will be a factor because he would probably like it a bit wetter than it’s going to be. Not many horses like this gluey ground so everyone else will probably be in the same boat. He’s on a nice mark and if he has come on for the run then I’d like to think he can certainly be competitive.