We finally got some rain overnight and eight millimetres fell in some heavy bursts. We are overcast once more and it looks to be set in for the week. The horses continue to remain in good heart and we have been able to turn some of them out into the small paddocks. They all seem to be looking well and were fresh this morning when undertaking their usual Monday morning routine.
I was very pleased with Red Verdon on Saturday and he is improving with his racing at a fast rate of knots. He travelled well during the early stages and he put the race to bed well when George asked him to quicken. Ronnie and myself will discuss future plans for him over the next couple of days. Alqubbah was a little unlucky as she was squeezed for room and could not get out into daylight and hit top gear, she was still only beaten just over four lengths and has run another sound race. Scrutinise travelled very well in the fourteen furlong handicap and did not seem to stay, we will drop him back in distance next time. Sagely ran another excellent race and tried her heart out, we knew we might run into a decent filly and Diploma looks smart, Silvestre also said she felt slightly flat so we will freshen her up now before running her again.
Global Revival is our only runner today at Leicester. He made his introduction at Newmarket and showed a little promise when finishing in the pack behind the leaders. He is a horse I like and I hope he can come on for Newmarket but I think we will see the best of him later in the year as he is still immature.
We saw two very good performances in the Irish 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas over the weekend with Awtaad and Jet Setting taking the honours. Remarkably Awtaad started the season winning a handicap off of 95 and he has now improved by two stone as this performance is likely to give him a rating in excess of 120. He is now seemingly heading to Royal Ascot where he will more than likely encounter a lot faster ground, Galileo Gold saw his race out well and finished well clear of the third without showing the electric turn of foot he had at Newmarket on better ground. Jet Setting had won twice in heavy ground and battled gamely to hold off Minding on this soft ground with the pair pulling ten lengths clear of the rest. She is clearly a very smart filly when she has ease in the ground and Minding lost little in defeat but will have had a lot harder race than connections hoped for with the Oaks coming up in under two weeks time.
England produced more of the same and bowled Sri Lanka cheaply in the cricket to win by an innings and eighty eight runs. It was a shame there was no cricket to watch on Sunday but it was great we have started the summer off well and Jimmy Anderson is a fine exponent of swing. Jonny Bairstow not only hit a century but managed to take nine catches during the match as well! It is unfortunate that Ben Stokes is injured and will miss the next two matches.