10th September 2020

Herefordshire farmers took Uttoxeter by storm yesterday. The on-course bookie was certainly relieved to get home. I heard a few quid was handed back to so he could get some fuel for the journey home. Flashing Glance toughed it out well to win, he looked to have a little in hand and gave away lengths in running. I watched the race from the top of the grandstand and thought he was heading for the final fence never mind hurdle. He won’t be able to give away ground like that up in grade and we will be looking to keep him right handed going forward.

Neville’s Cross did exactly what I thought he would do, I always felt we were on the back foot with him last season, the winter turn out paddocks have proved a valuable investment already as he spends most of his waking hours in them. We have always felt that he is one of those horses who has high sensitivity to dust spores. On the back of an excellent summer he has been a different horse this time. He has filled his framed and hasn’t missed a beat since he returned in training. I thought both jockeys gave the two winners excellent rides. 

Velasco can’t travel and behave like that throughout his races, he jumped terribly. I think the whole occasion just got to him. He is work in progress and this year will be a year of setting him up for his life ahead. 

Routine canters for most of the horses this morning, a few will get a couple more bits of faster work, after which, we will be applying the handbrake. September is forecast to be very dry and I won’t be in any hurry to run anything other than good ground horses until the rain arrives. 

Yes No Maybe So, Luck of The Legion and Floating Rock all schooled over hurdles.