Monthly Archives: October 2023

Artistic Endeavour is in great form. He holds a solid each-way chance, but there are some tasty ones to beat.

The 30 mils overnight will make the ground very testing at Newmarket and far different from the surface Shuwari raced on here in the Rockfel last time. It's another furlong today so I hope it doesn't turn into a slogging match. She did win on good to soft at Sandown and is clearly the one…

Novus overcame a difficult run to win a competitive Goodwood handicap over a mile in soft ground and then improved again with a close 4th in a Sandown Group 3. She seems ready for the step up in trip and is right up there on official ratings with the best of these fillies and mares.…

Faitque De Lisle ran okay for a long time before his usual weakening under pressure. This doesn't look a strong contest, though, and trip and ground should be ideal. He is running off lower than his last winning mark which does afford some hope. Place chances.

Ectocross has had a great season and won over track and distance last time in similar conditions. Any further rain should help his cause and he seems in great shape. There might still be more to come and he looks a serious contender.

Global Skies has come out of his Haydock win in great form. Young Tommie's claim negates the penalty so he should run his race. Hopefully, he can be ridden a bit more involved, now he is settling better and he shouldn't be far away if running up to expectations.

Regarde is by Kapgarde and is from the family of The New One on his female side. After winning an Irish point as a  5yo he was 4th in two of his four novice hurdle starts last season. He's a strapping individual built for jumping fences and should be able to progress in novice handicap…

Weaver's Answer is in good shape and has done well for his break. He was consistent at his level, running well going up to 3m for his last run of the season. Two miles here might be on the short side.

Kap Chidley has summered well and is in good form at home for this return to action. Soft ground and three miles ought to suit him and we are hopeful of a big run.

Le Patron made a promising start to his career here with an excellent 2nd as favourite at Plumpton, but in all honesty, he hasn't gone forward from that and has been very expensive to follow. He returns after a good summer break and the hope is he goes well in this four-horse affair. Certainly, his…

Atrium has been very frustrating of late as he has started to miss the break badly. We have done some stalls work with him recently and that seems to have helped. He loves Ascot and can go well if he jumps out on terms.

Idy Wood is a son of Coastal Path from a smart French family and is brother to a dual winner. He was placed in his two Irish point-to-points and then won on Rules debut in a bumper at Newbury having joined us. He jumps well and we're looking forward to seeing him novice hurdling this…

Cerulean Summer is a nice filly who has been showing plenty of promise. Oisin came in and worked her on Saturday and was making optimistic noises afterwards, so we have to be hopeful she will make a decent start today.

Ciara Pearl was very green on debut but showed plenty of promise to be second as she got the hang of things. She should take a step forward here.

Ray Vonn was back to his best at Newmarket last time on what I thought was slower ground. He has come out of that in good order and remains in fine shape going into Nottingham. Now top-weight in a lesser race rather than bottom weight in a better contest, if handling this ground he should…

Mi Chiquita likes quicker ground so any rain would be a negative. She has taken to hurdles well and the 7lb off her back for the talented Alice Stevens is a positive. She goes there with a decent chance and I'm hopeful she will run well on debut.

Power Of Darkness won nicely at Salisbury last time and has run well at Newcastle in the past. While he has the speed for seven furlongs, he might not have things his own way as was the case last time. That said, he remains well-handicapped.

Asense took a while to get his act together but has done so with a vengeance with wins at Lingfield (1m5f) and then last month here over shorter. They have been narrowly gained so a 3lb rise for Lingfield was followed by just a single pound for the latest here. The handicapper is hardly punishing…

Roundabout Silver has conditions to suit and won well here on penultimate start. Back in grade today, he seems in good form so a big run is expected and he is hard to ignore.

Astro King looks to have several things in his favour here, a good draw and decent ground. He has trained beautifully for this on the back of a good win at the Ebor meeting. A strong pace will suit, so now all we need is a bit of luck in this hugely competitive race.