Good morning from Newmarket!
With the five-day flat racing holiday coming to an end, the racing commences today at Lingfield where we field two runners. We are all looking forward to the start of the turf season next week at Doncaster and the Newmarket grass gallops have been getting very busy in preparation for this!
Mr Gent takes his chance in the 0-60 five-furlong handicap at 3.00. As stated previously, he is something of a mercurial character who seems to save a little for himself. Today we experiment a little more by dropping back to the minimum trip again, and we hope he puts his best foot forward today under Josie Gordon. It is the usually-competitive race for the grade, and if breaking smartly from stall 5, I hope we can see an improved performance.
Next up is Amazing Red in the 0-100 1m 4f handicap at 3.50. Having gained victories at both Kempton and Newmarket in 2018, he made a pleasing start to the new season when 5 ¾ lengths behind Mootasadir at Wolverhampton at the beginning of the month. While relatively small on numbers with seven runners, this looks to be a tight and ultra-competitive race with plenty entitled to fancy their chances today. This will be Red’s second run on the polytrack at Lingfield having competed in a similar event over course and distance in March 2018. He stayed on well then to be beaten ¾ of a length in what was a sprint from the turn in.
Since Wolverhampton the handicapper has dropped his rating 4lb which allows him to compete today from a mark of 98. While this is obviously a help, I am conscious he is still 5lb above his last winning mark. However, I was pleased with his return and with Frankie Dettori taking the mount, hope he can progress again today and play a part in the finish.
On the home front, our latest resident Siamese cat, Humphrey, has had a rather tough week, with the installation of a new invisible fence to keep him on the premises. He had been enjoying taking trips to visit the neighbours, Haggas and Botti, and also venturing down the rather busy Fordham Road!! In his frustration of not being able to go exploring he has taken to tree climbing which has caused rather a lot of stress to Mrs D and the crows as you can see by the pictures! Spot the cat on the tree!!