Gentleman watching the world go by
TWO runners at Kelso today, FETE CHAMPETRE (1.43) and GENTLEMAN DE MAI (3.24).
Both are lovely horses. Fete Champetre will wear a hood again today, it’s a good race over an extended two-and-a-half miles. It might stretch his stamina a bit but he’s in good fettle at home and we thought we’d have a go at a nice pot.
Gentleman has been given a very fair opening mark and we’d like to think he could win off it - and I see the betting agrees with that. He’s been off the track for a while after picking up a chest infection last year which he just couldn’t shake off. We have given him plenty of time, he’s fit and done all his work at home so we’re hopeful of a good run.
We were really pleased with Captain Quint at Hexham yesterday, it was a lovely chasing debut. He jumped a bit left at one fence where Craig had to sit tight, but apart from that moment of worry we were delighted with him. He’s a lovely big, raw horse who will take time so I don’t think we’ll fully see the best of him until next season - so it was very encouraging to start his year this way.
Rockonsoph found the ground a bit too soft and was a tiny bit keen but it was a good start for her. And Aazza departed too early in the race to say how she would have got on, it went down as an unseat but she didn’t give Dylan much of a chance! Espoir Moriviere wasn’t beaten far although he was seventh, he finished well and ran all the way to the line.