AS you may have noticed, I had my first ride in a while at Kempton on Wednesday.
The reason why it was my first for three or so weeks is that I had another fall on the gallops in late July.
It was no big deal, so I didn’t even feel it was worth talking about – and I could probably have even been back for the end of Goodwood if I had pushed it – but there was no point rushing matters after my major injury in April.
If you force the issue in these circumstances, the short-term benefits are often outweighed by potential long-term ramifications, so I decided slow and steady was the course for me.
Hopefully, I can finally start making up for lost time now.
3.00pm Newbury
Almania
He ran a bit below expectations at Ascot last time and has a lot to find with most of these on the book. But he is a horse who we think is better than his handicap mark of 97, and he does have form in the soft if it does turn testing. And hopefully the first-time blinkers will see him knuckle down, too.
3.35pm Newbury
History Writer
This is a horse for whom the more rain the better, and hopefully testing ground will see him step up considerably on his two efforts this season, though he didn’t run that badly here in June or at Goodwood last time in the Lennox. If he runs to the level of his heavy-ground performances in France last season, then he could run a fair bit better than his official mark, which basically gives him a stone to find with the likes of a peak-form Dream Of Dreams, would suggest. Unibet is boosting the price of the favourite in this race from 2pm Saturday.
4.10pm Newbury
Illies Memories
I don’t know anything about her at the moment. But this Hard Spun filly is related to winners and her dam was a smart Listed race winner over 6f, so this trip looks the right starting point for her. Unibet is boosting the price of the favourite in this race from 2pm Saturday.
4.45pm Newbury
Fantasy Believer
He ran well when third over 1m here on his reappearance but not so good when favourite at Doncaster last time. He steps up to 1m2f for the first time here, so hopefully that will see him improve. He is by the miler Make Believe, but he is responsible for this year’s French Derby winner Mishriff and his dam stayed 1m4f, so that is encouraging on the pedigree front. He would be unproven on the ground if it turned soft.
5.20pm Newbury
Coconut
This well-related Australia filly has run well on all three starts so far, and the form of her Haydock second makes her the one to beat in here. She looks my best chance of a winner on the day, although the ground is an unknown. Unibet is boosting the price of the favourite in this race from 2pm Saturday.
