Double delight

When winners are hard to come by, you will happily settle for just one so to get two on the same day really is a great feeling and you definitely appreciate it fully.
As a fairly superstitious person, I'm never usually too confident about our runners to avoid putting the mockers on them but I certainly did feel that Appease had a great chance at Yarmouth last Tuesday over a mile after running out of puff over a bit further last time. We have had him a couple of months since he was sent to me from Ireland and he had done all his work nicely at home to suggest he was capable of winning off his low rating.
Shelley Birkett had to work hard on him to get the job done though as he raced very lazily and was one of the first off the bridle before coming down the centre of the track to hit the front inside the final furlong. 
You would think that this success will do the horse's confidence the world of good as he hadn't got his head in front for the last four years for previous trainers.

Shelley, Appease and Zoe are all smiles at Yarmouth (photo: www.photoaction.co.uk)

This win capped off a brilliant day after Secret Strategy had notched his second win of the summer down at Brighton earlier in the day.
It's fair to say that we didn't fancy his chances much after some lacklustre runs and the handicapper had even dropped him 4lbs on the morning of the race for his run the previous week so he was in effect running 4lbs 'wrong'. However, horses don't know that and he benefited from a strong pace and a great ride from Hollie Doyle to come through late on and snatch the win.
He has looked in need of a break recently and that may be an option so that he is fresh for an all weather campaign but he will be entered at Brighton again next Sunday as he seems very effective at the course after two wins there.

Secret Strategy and Hollie Doyle coast home at Brighton

We were hoping for a similar day on Thursday with Pitch High and Tallulah's Quest at Chepstow but unfortunately the ground hadn't dried out as much as we had hoped so they couldn't show their best.

We will just be having a handful of runners this week, starting on Monday at Southwell.
Go On Gal has been so unlucky in her career to not win a race and has finished second a remarkable seven times. Some of those best runs have come at Southwell so we are hoping the return there can see her come back to some form after a bit of a quiet season so far for her.
In the same race will be Mungo Madness. He has looked in need of a step up in trip recently and seemed to handle Southwell when running there once before. he is getting a lot of weight off Go On Gal which would make it tight between them. 

Mungo Madness (Chloe) & Go On Gal (Ross)

On Thursday we have a trio of entries at two different venues.
Close to home at Chelmsford will be Avocet. She hasn't shown on the track what we know she is capable of but she is bred to run best on the all weather so I'm hoping a run on it will see her improve.
Farther afield at Wolverhampton will be Best Example and Terri Rules.
Best Example has really come alive of late with a trio of placings and riding him patiently has certainly helped. He bumped into an improving rival last time so should be thereabouts again if there aren't any others like that.
Terri Rules has been very consistent too and we know she handles this track well. She has a great attitude and will be winning races soon.

Oceanus (Chloe) & Best Example (Ross)

Regular readers of the blog will know that I am partial to putting up any pictures of rare bird visitors to the yard and I was very surprised to see this monster waddle past my front door the other day. Those in the know tell me it's an Egyptian Goose which are now bred in this country as pets.

​FOUR TO FOLLOW LEADERBOARD

John Chalklin 80
Ken Campbell 74
Ros Taylor 74
George Evans 71
Kevin Case 67
J Rogers 66
Eileen Turner 64
Michael Buckley 62
Geoff Walton 61
John Tucker 61