Wet and windy down here near Epsom where I am greatly looking forward to going to the Derby for the first time this afternoon.

Back up the road tomorrow morning for Perth’s Gold Cup fixture. The ground looks like being on the soft side of good and we have one runner – Maillot Blanc in the 17.37.

Maillot Blanc

He won this race last year and has been on great form this spring. As a result he has to carry top weight in a fairly competitive 14 runner handicap which will be a tough ask especially with a couple of potential improvers in the field. We will give it our best shot – Bruce rides.

He will most probably have a break after tomorrow and if that is the case we will have no horses in training for the next month. No harm in that as plenty to do and already looking forward to filling the yard up again early next month.

A fine day but still on the cool side, heatwave yet to reach this far North but forecast promising for next week as high pressure extends it’s reach.  Ladies Day at Kelso tomorrow where extensive watering will hopefully have held the ground at good and we have one runner, Gorvennec in the 15.37.  He hasn’t run his race at all on two starts this spring which has been disappointing and puzzling; we have changed a few things at home and are trying a visor on tomorrow, he’s being working well at home so I just hope this translates to the track – Bruce rides and 12 run.

Gorvennec

Sales season is well upon us and we were delighted to buy two lovely horses at Doncaster this week, another one acquired privately in France and a beautiful horse bought at Cheltenham in late April so we are steadily building the equine team for next season.  Really excited to have these promising young horses in the yard and can’t thank our Owners enough for their support.   More business to do and next stop is Tattersalls Sale at Fairyhouse on Thursday.

Lake Nagambie – 4yo filly by Jet Away, winner of her only start in a point to point.

Royal March – 5yo gelding by Dartmouth, 2nd on his only start in a bumper.

Le Coup d’Envoi – 5yo gelding by Bathyron, 3rd over fences at Auteuil earlier this month.

Jackson Court – 5yo gelding by Court Cave, winner of a point to point in March

No winners at Perth’s April meeting but a reasonably productive time with TakeyoutotheIsland improving to be a good 2nd, Ned Tanner and Suspected running nice races to be 3rd and Nae Bother at A’ showing up much better to be 5th.  Oor Wish ran well for a long way but was possibly showing the effects of a long season, Beat the Retreat didn’t really show up at all and L’Appel du Large still has breathing issues.  Jirko took a heavy fall but was fortunately OK.

TakeyoutotheIsalnd with Caitlin & Dom – surprisingly wet at Perth in the end

Still on the chilly side and with it remaining dry the grass growth appears to be grinding to a halt, no sign of any change from current weather pattern.  We were delighted to get the 2026/27 Season off to a winning start with Maillot Blanc dead-heating for first place at Kelso last week, we were also pleased with Lester Mail taking another step forward to be 4th.  Off to grass for him now and should be plenty of improvement to come, all being well Maillot will head to Perth on the first Sunday in June when he will attempt to retain his crown in the staying handicap hurdle on their Gold Cup day, he will be 8lb higher this time round.

Maillot Blanc – far side, it’s just as well feet don’t count!

And it is Perth we are off to this week with 8 runners declared across the two days of their May meeting, traditionally our last busy fixture prior to returning with fresh horses in late September.  Ground should be well watered easy side of good, a few showers certainly wouldn’t go amiss to stop it drying out too much.  Five of our runners are tomorrow and we start with Oor Wish in the 14.00; this is a decent enough mares maiden hurdle and on achievements to date I’d say she is booked for 7th of the 11 runners, I think she will improve and perform above this level but a major step forward is required to make the frame – we might have to wait until autumn for that – Bruce rides.

Oor Wish

Suspected improved to win over 3m at the last Perth fixture, he did that well and the extended 3m 2f trip in the 15.08 tomorrow shouldn’t be a problem.  Up 6lb for his win he has the advantage of Kit’s 5lb claim coming back into play so all being well he should give a good account though this is a step up in class and a deeper looking sort of race – 12 run.

Suspected

Jirko runs in the 15.43; he was travelling nicely last time when unshipping Dom with a circuit to go and he drops in class over the same 3m trip tomorrow.  If – and its quite a big “if” – he can get into a good rhythm with his jumping then he could put up a bold show.  It’s odd because when he started over fences last autumn he looked very good in the jumping department but he has become a little erratic – hopefully Bruce can sort him out, 8 run.

Jirko

TakeyoutotheIsland runs in the first division of the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at 16.55; he has a bit to prove at present as he disappointed on handicap debut at Carlisle last time, not really coming up the hill with any conviction.  Hopefully the combination of the flatter track, a 3lb lower mark and an 8lb claim from Dom will see him being more competitive this time – he has plenty of ability but has been injured a couple of times and those old injuries might just be taking the edge off but I’d like to think he could take a decent step forward – 10 run.

Takeyoutotheisland

Course and distance winner Beat the Retreat runs in the 2nd division at 17.25; he seems in great form and ran well enough last time over an inadequate 2m and ought to run better back over his best trip – 10 run and Dom rides.

Beat the Retreat

It will be back to Perth on Thursday with three runners starting with two in the maiden hurdle at 13.48.  L’Appel du Large (Bruce) is making his hurdling debut having had a wind operation since not performing to our expectations in two bumpers.  I’m not sure how successful that operation has been and I’d just like to see him run a better type of race starting out over obstacles.

L’Appel du Large

Nae Bother At A’ is lowly rated and has failed to fire in two handicaps, dropping back to 2m in weight for age company may seem an odd thing to do but we just need to see him finish a race off as he appears to have plenty of ability at home – Sean rides and 13 run.

Nae Bother At A’

Last but not least is Ned Tanner who runs in the 3m handicap chase at 14.33; he ran a nice race in better company over course and distance last time; he was 3lb out of the weights that day so a repeat of that form should see him involved – Sean rides and 6 run.

Ned Tanner

I am due to have some rather invasive dental treatment tomorrow morning after which I am supposed to rest for the remainder of the day.  It may well be that I do that though it will be hard to resist a trip to Perth, albeit in a low key fashion if I am under the weather.

Happy Days!