WE have four runners over the next two days, with a couple each at Musselburgh and Ascot.
Dobbs is heading up to Edinburgh today, while Kim, Emma and I are heading south to Berkshire. Given how the last ten months have been, travelling that far will seem like a holiday!
We’ve also been told that at Ascot there won’t be any food served so we’ll be getting a Deliveroo instead - which is a real novelty for us in these parts!
First up today at Musselburgh is STYLE NELSON (1.20) in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle. This is his first go in a handicap after running a nice race last time out behind one of Charlie Longsdon’s. We were well beaten by the winner on that occasion, but finished comfortably ahead of the rest and we’ll find out today whether his mark is a good one or not.
Having the course form in the book, we know Musselburgh is a track which suits him and today we’ll find out a bit more about him.
EAGLE DE GUYE (1.55) goes in the 3m chase and while he wants better ground, we hope Musselburgh soft is a lot less testing than it was at Wetherby the last time. We expected more from him on that occasion but the ground stopped him, it was atrocious.
We have put a tongue tie on now and hopefully that will help him see out his race a bit better. If the ground is better today, we hope he’ll run a good race.
Ascot is a track we’ve only had one runner at in the past so it’s good to be going there again. We don’t travel south with too many but we looked at the programme book and liked the look of the races there.
Obviously when you head down there it gets very competitive - and even more so on a Saturday - so we are in no doubt about the task both horses face. But they’re fit and well, so we might as well have a crack at decent prizes.
BIGIRONONHISHIP (2.25) is first up in a 3m handicap chase with thirteen runners. It’s very difficult on paper but if he runs up to his best we think he’s got a chance. At Kelso the last time for the Borders National it was very heavy and it found him out a bit. This is a slightly shorter trip so dropping back on what should be a bit better ground will suit him. If he runs the way we know he can then he can be in the mix.
JONNIESOFA (3.00) deserves to have a go at something like this after the way he’s been running. Before entering I had looked at this race from previous seasons and there were never too many runners, but this year it’s hotter and the field will be bigger than usual - which is typical! He’s off a nice weight and we believe the ground, trip and track will suit, so if he’s on his game he’ll go well.
In the photo above you can see Jonnie getting some shockwave treatment on his back legs last week. Both he and BigIron have it as it helps their muscles and aids them in staying sound - so hopefully gives them a bit of extra oomph at Ascot!
It was a bit of a mixed bag at Ayr on Monday, we were very pleased with Seven Eye Bridge who held his form and ran a very nice race. But we were disappointed with Famous Moment, Bako De La Saulaie and Shanbally Rose. Bako ran well for a long way and we thought he’d be getting involved at the end, but he just stopped. Shanbally was seriously disappointing but she scoped dirty afterwards, so there is an excuse there. Famous Moment is one for the future so the experience won't be lost on him.