It’s a beautiful morning here today in Newmarket and whilst we had a slight frost overnight, it is now a lot warmer than some of the weather we have experienced recently. I hope reports of a cold Easter prove to be inaccurate.
Amazing Red ran very well on Friday when third at Lingfield and I was pleased with the way he finished his race off. He settled nicely and he could have done with a stronger end to end gallop. I hope there is a nice handicap in him this year.
We run Arnarson this evening at Kempton in the 7:45. He has been a model of consistency this year and he has a chance in an extremely open and competitive handicap. We have a good draw thankfully and there should be an even gallop in the race which will be helpful. I was pleased with his run at Newcastle on his last start where he just got worn down over the mile there off of a career high mark and he will more than likely need a career best to win this evening.
It is hard to discount many of his rivals. Spare Parts is gunning for his seventh win of the Winter and he will more than likely be up with the pace from his low draw in three. Repton could be extremely well handicapped given the form he showed at two and will be a very dangerous opponent if the gelding operation has benefited him. Outer Space is in form and has been rated much higher, Unforgiving Minute is in the same category. Shyron will need a good gallop and luck from stall five as he needs cover early on in his races. Magic Mirror loves Kempton and won well in a lower grade last time whilst Medici Banchiere has fallen to an attractive mark and with the blinkers on, he could be ridden prominently from stall two. Intransigent is a course and distance winner who has drifted down to a workable mark, Poetic Force may find 7f too sharp and finally Plant Pot Power is a course and distance winner but he needs to come back into form. As I mentioned previously it is very wide open and the bookmakers agree given they go 5-1 the field.