19/07/20

We've had a quiet couple of weeks runners-wise but we are back to being busy again this week with a good few entries.
Although the owners' experience of a raceday is very restricted at the moment, there was some good news this week as Goodwood was given the go-ahead to host a maximum of 5000 spectators on the final day of it's Glorious meeting at the end of the month. If this many people are allowed to attend a raceday then surely other racecourses can allow a few more owners onto the track to enjoy a full day of racing, not just their race after which they have to leave like things are currently. Getting owners back onto the course is essential for the future of the sport and I hope that the next few weeks can see a step in the right direction to allow this as I know many of you are itching to go racing again.

One of the best places to go as an owner is Sandown and we will be there twice this week, starting on Tuesday. Engrave has taken a couple of runs to get fully fit after the lockdown but she put in one of her best efforts yet when third last time. The winner of that race has won again since and she should take another step forward. Hopefully she can be in with a shout again at a track which should suit her.
Alibaba has been thriving since racing resumed with two wins from two runs and he bids for the hat-trick at Sandown on Tuesday. The handicapper has put him up 11lbs since the start of his winning run and he is up in class against older horses now but hopefully he still has a bit more improvement in him and can make another bold bid from the front.

We have a trio of entries at Yarmouth on Wednesday but it remains to be seen which ones get a run with plenty of horses entered there. Winter Snowdrop and Ride & Prejudice are in the same race and there wouldn't be much to choose between them at home. Winter Snowdrop found the ground a bit too firm last time and didn't get the best of positions so she should fare better now whilst Ride & Prejudice looked in need of this step up in trip when outpaced over a mile last time.
​I'm dropping Approve The Dream back to six furlongs that same day at Yarmouth in the hope that he can see out his race better after fading over one mile and seven furlongs recently. He has plenty of speed so I think he can go the early pace and hopefully he can stick at it in the finish as he is handicapped to win a race now.

Approve The Dream (Sam)

Gas Monkey has been working his way back into form this season and has also come down a bit in the weights after being penalised for four wins last year. He is entered at Sandown on Thursday and I'm dropping him back to 1m2f as the uphill finish should bring out his proven stamina over that trip. He is fit and well and can hopefully rattle the till again.