Ed and Mrs D.
A little muggy but not a great deal of sun.
Ground and weather. The two banes of my life. It was reportedly gluey at Chepstow yesterday as rainfall hit watered ground, while the rain poured a little more than anticipated at Leopardstown, although Manndawi shaped like a blatant non-stayer in the Challenge Stakes.
Six runners this afternoon on what is our busiest day of the year so far. Prince Gagarin flies the flag at Hamilton and while he wants some ease, we will need to monitor the conditions after nearly 30mm of rain overnight.
His form this year is solid with the Gallinule having worked out better than it appeared on paper at the time. The winners if favourite for the Irish Oaks tomorrow, while the second has run with credit in two Derbys. The extra furlong should suit our horse and he continues to work well at home.
Dutch Uncle tackles his elders in the mile and a quarter handicap at Newbury and it is worth putting a line through his Royal Ascot run, where he was drawn wide on quick ground and probably didn’t stay the trip either. Today’s conditions will be much more suitable and his third over course and distance behind Time Test reads well. His mark looks fair.
Island Authority had a bad experience first time out at Windsor as she bore the brunt of others’ restlessness in the stalls so we want Nottingham to be much more enjoyable for her.
Will Haydock get any rain? Queensbury Odyssey won’t mind quick ground as he has his third start in the juvenile maiden, but we wouldn’t want it rattling for Tartoor, an Oasis Dream three-year-old who makes his debut over a mile.
Lastly, Vereri Senes has been equipped with a hood and cheekpieces for her second start in a handicap at Pontefract. The stiff mile and a quarter should suit and very few are riding as well as Silvestre de Sousa at the moment.
A long day for England at Lord’s yesterday and we look set for a repeat dose this afternoon. Thankfully, life was much more pleasant in the hospitality boxes and I had an excellent afternoon in the company of ODI captain Eoin Morgan and fellow trainers and owners courtesy of Sporting Index.
Back tomorrow.
Ed