Monthly Archives: August 2023

All About Alice had some good placed form over 2m for her previous stable early in the year but she hasn't quite matched it for us. She's back at the trip after a couple of runs over shorter and should have the ability to run into a place in this sort of company.

Sea The Clouds won a bumper and then followed up with a debut win over hurdles late last summer. He has been placed in four of his next five starts and appreciated going up to 2m4f last time when narrowly denied by a horse that has won again since, Up 3lb here, he needs to…

David Dunsdon went close to winning on his company's horse Warning Sign at Newbury last time but there's no question that he would prefer to win today's amateurs' Derby over the full 12 furlongs at Epsom. He has been a skilled rider for many years and it would no doubt be a popular winner if…

Boann has disappointed us twice when we had high expectations. I'm running her on AW for the first time and as she has always worked well on it, I remain optimistic, but after the two runs, I have to wonder.

Crimson Spirit learnt plenty from his first run and ran a nice race second time out when a close 4th at Nottingham. That form looks reasonable and he has come forward again at home. The Epsom track is challenging and he's still inexperienced but if he handles it he can be competitive in a valuable…

Liberated Lad is in good form after his Nottingham success and the rain has come to ease the going for him. It's a winnable race and if he plays ball a big run should be on the cards.

Soto Sizzler has been disappointing this year, apart from a decent third in the middle of his three runs at Epsom when he finished 3rd. His latest run here over 1m2f at the big meeting produced a poor effort as he stopped quickly under Ryan and was eased, yet the post-race examination found nothing amiss.…

Astro King went down by the narrowest of margins over course and distance in the John Smith's Cup, with just a pixel separatiing him from the winner. He's been aimed at this race ever since and hopefully he can gain the redemption he deserves.

Surrey Noir has been a shade disappointing to date, but he has been gelded since his last run and this has been the target for a while. The 7f at Kempton should suit and I have put a set of cheek-pieces on him just to sharpen him up a touch. James Doyle knows him well. 

Bumper winner Ironhill ran his best race since when 3rd to today's favourite over this CD three weeks ago. That was only his 2nd run for us and now he is allowed 10lb for a 12-length defeat and that should bring them closer together. Each-way chances.

Fen Tiger has been disappointing this year but there have been excuses and he probably doesn't get beyond 1m4f. The ground and track will suit and he is back to a winning mark. There is no reason why he shouldn't bounce back at a nice price.

It's How We Roll ran very well, running on into 3rd after a slow start at Bath. If he can get away on terms, he should be right in there pitching at the death.

Evening Story made a pleasing return to action after a break when 3rd over seven furlongs, running a race to suggest stepping back up to a mile would be a big plus. On face value, this looks a good opening for her.

Grand Alliance has been kept to 1m4f and gained his best win on soft ground first time out this year at Newbury in the Group 3 John Porter. He will be happy on the surface here and I think it's worth taking a chance going up to 1m7f with a Group 2 prize in the…

Forest Demon has gone close a couple of times recently, while maybe he was a shade disappointing without running a bad race at Chelmsford last time. He gets a tongue-tie for the first time here.

Ray Vonn is fresh and well and back in good form after tweaking his back with his mishap in the stalls last time. It's his first run for a while and the first since having his wind done. and again a first run on turf for some time. We will learn plenty about him but…

Moondial has been consistent all season, winning once and picking up prizemoney in every start. She should be suited by the track, albeit this is a slight step up in class and she wouldn't too much rain.

Lil Guff is another enjoying a productive season having won twice with a bunch of placed efforts too. Not seen to best effect on slower ground the last twice, hopefully, she can bounce back here under more favourable conditions.

Fiscal Policy is enjoying a good season and it might have been even better but for being checked in running at a crucial point last time. He has good form particularly on all-weather and although not the easiest of rides, he benefits from the most experienced rider in this small field here.

Romanova had a tough task on debut and after a slow start, she was always playing catch up and did well in the circumstances to finish so close. We've retained the hood and she has improved since that debut, so I'm hopeful she can be competitive today.