Rugging Up

It's a sign that summer is over when we have to dig the horses' rugs out of storage and put them on again to keep the team warm and we did just that this week as the overnight temperatures turned to the chilly side. It's certainly more noticeable that the light is starting to fade as it's pretty dark when I wake up in the morning and the sun has near enough set by 7.30pm. You can put as many rugs on the horses as you like but it is a fact of nature that they will grow a longer winter coat eventually and it's hard to keep our horses looking pristine as they get to enjoy plenty of time out in the fields where they roll in the mud anyway but I think it's more important to have happy horses than ones who look shiny.

It was a frustrating week on the racetrack with not much luck going our way. Both Sir Fred and Telekinetic weren't disgraced at Bath on Wednesday but the ground was probably a bit too quick for them to show their best. Whilst the ground wasn't an issue for Approve The Dream at Wolverhampton on Saturday night, he had no luck whatsoever after being hampered at the start and was then denied a clear run in the finish. He hardly had a race and is ready to win when things go his way. We were in the 8.30pm race with him and it's pretty depressing to be coming home in the middle of the night with all the road closures that are put in place. I've never been a fan of evening racing but you have to go where the right races are.

Hopefully this week brings a bit more joy as we have some good chances.
Staying handicap races for three-year olds are hard to find at the moment hence why I'm having to run two of mine in the same race at Brighton on Monday. It's the second time New Expo and Miss Green Dream have run against each other this year when they finished second and third earlier in the season at Yarmouth. There shouldn't be too much between them again this time and I'll settle for a dead-heat in first place! New Expo ran well at the track last time so has no problems with it whilst Miss Green Dream seems nimble enough to handle the unique undulations by the seaside and she was unlucky last time so you can forget that run.

Miss Green Dream (Gemma)

New Expo (Ross)

Our third runner at Brighton on Monday is Limerick Lord and he bounced right back to form with a fine second over this course and distance last Sunday. Hopefully it was a sign that he is hitting top form again after some disappointing runs and we take on the horse that beat us that day a bit better off at the weights so fingers crossed he can reverse the form if on a going day.

Limerick Lord (Chloe)

Sea Shack is entered at Kempton on Wednesday but I doubt he will get a run so the next runners won't be until Lingfield on Saturday.
As already mentioned, Approve The Dream barely had a race last weekend so I hope he can bounce back here and get a much-deserved win. A straight mile on turf isn't a problem for him as he has run well at Yarmouth before and he is handicapped to get competitive.
Going with him will be Highway Robbery who ran very well when third last time. He is honest and tries so is never too far away.

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FOUR TO FOLLOW STANDINGS