The three runners at Uttoxeter through up mixed results. Mauritian Bolt may need headgear as he is a bit too chilled through his races and he also spends a lot of time in the air. Cheekpieces will be applied and he will have one more run over hurdles before going chasing. He is becoming frustrating. Switch Partner ran far too keen and never gave herself a chance though she did jump better than I was anticipating following her schooling at home. Silver Coin ran well though beaten a long way but she raced behind the bridle and a bit green. Her jumping improved and she will need a trip but she will come on for the experience and has come out of the race well.
Looking ahead, Cyrus Keep returns to Hexham in the race he won last year. He hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory since and he needs to show a bit more this time. At least we know he likes the track; his blinkers have been reapplied and Danny McMenamin rides (he ran well for Danny at Southwell once). Which Cyrus shows up remains to be seen. On Monday we are at Southwell with Lemon T and Pontefract with Flint Hill. Both are course and distance winners. Flint Hill won this race last year and a return to a stiff course like Pontefract should suit him. He ran better than the bare result at York in a stop start race and he came out of that race well. Graham Lee rides. Lemon T pulled up with atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm) last time and has been given time to recover from what I hope was a one off. Blinkers will replace his cheekpieces as he is starting to relax a bit too much again.
The two year olds have been ridden away and are now relaxing in the field. All three have different personalities and have generally being good to break. All three were very relaxed about about being ridden so after three days of trotting around the lunge ring they have been finished. They will go off to grass to grow a bit more now and will be back in at Christmas to do the next stage of their education – riding on the gallops.