String starting to warm up

The arctic winds gave us a good battering this week but, with runners every day, there was no time to stand around getting cold and we were rewarded with some good results on the track.
It is hard to fault Go On Gal's attitude as she tries 100% every time and at Southwell this week she was unfortunate to bump into a better horse on the day...for the sixth time! From thirteen career runs she has now finished in second place on nearly half of those and it is full credit to her great bunch of owners that they remain as supportive and optimistic as ever! Hopefully they will all be rewarded soon with a win.
Another who filled the runner-up spot this week was Critical Thinking. He had been running OK in maidens but the drop down to claiming company saw him in a better light and he out-ran his 12/1 odds to finish a fast-closing second under young apprentice Finley Marsh. He too has a great attitude and will be worth following for the remainder of the all-weather season as he provides the N.E.T. Racing Club with some good days out.

Finley, Critical Thinking & Chloe after finishing 2nd (photo: Gay Chalklin)

Although not as busy this week, we'll still be at the races plenty starting with Limerick Lord at Southwell on Monday.
​He is a regular at the track and usually runs an honest race. He is coming down to a good handicap mark now so should be involved at the finish again if getting things his own way.

Limerick Lord (Ian)

Dakota City had to miss his race last week after getting cast in his stable on the morning of the race. Luckily he didn't do any major damage with just a few superficial cuts so he should be good to head to Kempton on Wednesday. I might just change his headgear from the usual blinkers as he seems to be getting a bit complacent in them and starting slowly. He is gradually coming down in the weights and should be handicapped to win soon.

Dakota City (Ross) & Spirit Of Sarwan (Chloe)

Candesta has been a real star in recent months, notching three victories. A try over 1m2f at Lingfield last time didn't see him to best effect so he'll drop back down to a mile at Chelmsford on Thursday in a bid to bounce back. He is taking a hike up in grade but he still looks to be improving.
Cuban Queen ran a great race when just losing out at Kempton earlier in the month but then had no luck when encountering traffic problems at Lingfield last time. She came out of that race in good heart so she has been entered for Kempton on Friday. She looks ready to win and hopefully that day won't be too far away.

Cuban Queen (Tess) & Spirit Of Sarwan (Chloe)

Also in on Friday but at Lingfield are Spirit Of Sarwan and Critical Thinking.
As mentioned earlier, Critical Thinking ran a blinder last time and looks to have a good opportunity in a weakish maiden race.
Spirit Of Sarwan will be having his first run back after a winter holiday but he is pretty fit after doing some solid gallops. He was quite useful last year as a two-year old and I don't think his current rating is beyond him.