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Friday 28th September

Fri 28 September 2018

Global Giant

Hello from Newmarket. Yesterday we said bon voyage to Red Verdon on his Journey to Melbourne and we will all rest a little easier when he lands safely in Australia.  After a relatively quiet few days at the track, today we send out four runners to various home tracks, and one to Dundalk.

First to compete is at Haydock where Hazarfan lines up in the twelve-furlong handicap at 1.35. He has been a tad unlucky in his recent runs and allowing for that put up one of his better performances on latest start at Nottingham. Today he drops back two-furlongs, and I hope the forecast softer ground will be in his favour, as his best performance last season came on good to soft ground at Redcar. This looks to be a competitive handicap with a host of proven handicap performers taking part. However, I feel Hazarfan has more to offer, and give him a sporting EW chance. Danny Tudhope takes the ride.

Next up for us is at Newmarket where Valence makes his debut in the seven-furlong maiden for 2yr olds at 4.10. this son of Oasis Dream is out of a very talented mare we were lucky enough to train called Independence, who has gone on to produce plenty of talented offspring. Valence is a full brother to Monitor Closely, and a half-brother to Mount Nelson among other talented relations. It is his first day at school and we are hoping he has a good first experience on the racecourse, and from this we can begin to plan his future. Ben Curtis takes the ride.

Our final domestic runner is at Newcastle where Mr Gent runs in the seven-furlong handicap at 7.15. He has shown flashes of form interspersed with some disappointing performances, and after his second-place finish at Brighton, the handicapper has dropped him 2lbs to a mark of 70. He also returns to the AW for the first time this year, and I am hoping this may also bring some improvement in his performance. Josephine Gordon takes the mount.

We head across the sea to Dundalk where Global Giant competes again at Group Three level at 7.30 over twelve and a half furlongs. He has been progressive since early June, rising from a mark of 88 to 105. This progression was confirmed with a very solid second in the Group Three Winter Hill stakes at Windsor, and while the home team will put up a stern defence, I hope Global Giant can continue this upward curve and go very close in this decent contest on his AW debut. Gerald Mosse rides.

Finally for today, our last runner is at Newcastle when Qawamees takes his chance in the mile handicap at 8.15. He responded well to first-time blinkers last time out at Chelmsford over ten-furlongs when finishing second in a small field. The handicapper was sufficiently impressed to raise him 2lb for this bringing his mark to 80. Tonight, we drop back to a mile trip for the first time since May. It Is an experiment, but he seems to have shown enough speed in his last couple of outings to suggest it may suit. As said, it is an experiment, but one I feel is well worth a try over the straight mile. Dane O’Neill takes the ride.

So, on a busy day for staff and horses,

All the best,

Ed.

 



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