Two runners tomorrow with Mount Mews up first at Aintree. Only beaten once in six starts he has steadily improved all season and was an emphatic winner last time. The race fell apart but he could not have been more convincing and he jumped and travelled well. Tomorrow poses a big step up in class and we hope he is good enough; he is well at home and has schooled well and we believe he will be suited by better ground in a true run race. Hopefully we are right! Card Game heads to Sedgefield for the race she won last year. Jamie rode her last year (though he claimed 5lbs not the 3lb he currently claims) and the ground was soft. She hasn’t ran as well as we hoped this year after a very good run first time out but she is a pound higher then when she took this race last year, is thriving at home and has schooled well. It is a trappy race with plenty of horses with chances but we would love to see her come back to form.
Having being delighted with Cloudy Dreams second in the Arkle at Cheltenham we came here with higher expectations and emotionally paid the price. On reflection he did most things well, though he took longer then expected to settle and as a result his jumping was interesting to watch over the first few fences. Been beaten a length in a Grade one is heartbreaking but we are very proud of him as he started the season as a handicapper and now looks a genuine Grade One horse. He may, if all is well, go to Ayr. We ended the day on a high after Double W’s ended a frustrating run involving a lot of seconds by winning the Red Rum handicap chase for owners who have been with us for years and deserve and enjoy a horse like him. We could not believe he failed to see the trip out at Cheltenham but he has learnt a lot this season and matured physically and mentally all year. He ability to stay a bit further then the two miles probably helped him today as they went a relentless gallop and he outstayed them to pass the post in first. It was the fasted race of the day!