The cold east wind and drizzle returns after a fine day at Musselburgh yesterday. Two great days’ racing and delighted with our runners; The G Wizard and Whiskey on Ice filling the runner up spot and Platin Moon coming a close 3rd. No winners but three career bests, Bel Amigo was also running a tremendous race until falling heavily three out when still bang in contention. He’s stiff and sore this morning but bright enough so will hopefully start to improve soon, he will need a little time to get over it though, Bruce bravely took his ride in the following race but today he looks more like he was in the boxing ring yesterday than on the racecourse.
Whiskey on Ice (left) narrowly denied in the last at Musselburgh yesterday
On to Carlisle tomorrow where they have remarkably missed all the rain over the last week and the ground is now good to soft with good places on the chase track. We have four runners starting with TakeyoutotheIsland in the 13.30; I maintain that time will tell he is a much better horse than he has shown to date and I think he will improve on the better ground tomorrow though his pedigree suggests he will want further to show his best. Bruce rides and 12 run.
Takeyoutotheisland
Scarlet Jet makes his chasing debut in the 14.00; he meets all three opponents on unfavourable terms handicap wise so tomorrow should probably be viewed as an educational exercise however, only one has run over fences before and he fell last time so it could turn into an interesting race. Bruce rides and 4 run.
Scarlet Jet
Our runner in the Mares Hurdle at 14.35 is Just an Artist, one of three hurdle winners in the race with two maidens over obstacles each receiving 7lb. On paper it looks very tight between these five and I guess the race will be won by whoever handles the idiosyncratic track best. Who knows but I’d be as confident as I could be that Just an Artist will take to it so hopefully she won’t be far away. Bruce rides and 8 run.
Just An Artist
Time for a cup of tea hopefully before Orkney Blue runs in the 16.04; his chasing debut at Kelso was fine and then he ran no race next time at Hexham. He was very lame post that race so something went wrong and he certainly seems back to his best now, however it looks a tough task having to give weight away all round to a big field on ground that is likely to be on the lively side for him. Kevin Brogan rides and 14 run.
Orkney Blue
Likely to be a quiet week after that with next possible runners at Newcastle and Friars Haugh p2p on Sunday, plan to be busy again next week so let’s hope the weather continues to behave.