A quiet weekend for us with no runner on Saturday but a handful at Sandown on Sunday where hopefully we have some nice chances among them. Obviously the ground is plenty quick enough at present, which is why we are running only a few who will go on it, but we might get some rain next week ahead of the three day Cheltenham meeting. Plans still remain fluid but Under Control is an intended runner in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle and I might even let Break My Soul take her chance after running so well at Ascot last week. Jonbon is on course for the Shloer and we are going to go cross country racing with Mister Coffey, I think he’ll rather enjoy that. We have plenty of Novices’ to get out and I’d imagine Peaky Boy would be on the list to head to Prestbury Park all being well.

Willmount and Joyeuse are two who will be heading to Windsor on Monday for a little away day as they continue their build up to the season.

SANDOWN – SUNDAY

1:40

Tradecraft (Nico De Boinville)

He comes here having shown smart bumper form, notably at Ascot when he was second to Regent’s Stroll, and he’s a horse we like a lot. He was disappointing at Punchestown but I think that was probably late enough in the season and it was a little bit ambitious for his time of life so I’m happy to draw a line through that. He’s strengthened up a lot over the summer, though, and everything has gone very well with his schooling. Two miles around Sandown looks a good place to start.

2:15

Jeriko Du Reponet (Nico De Boinville)

He is a very high class animal, and one with an extremely bright future. He was one of the few that ran at the Cheltenham Festival, which, in hindsight, we probably shouldn’t have done, because he’s much, much better than what he showed in the Supreme. We have a whole stack of Novice Chasers this season and it’s a case of getting them all going. This isn’t the easiest track in the world but he’s schooled well and you’d be hopeful that this lad would be quite near the top of the crop. He wants good ground, which he should get here.

4:00

Broxy Music (Nico De Boinville)

He’s a very well bred son of Blue Bresil out of a very talented mare called Broxbourne, who we trained, and who stayed very well on the flat and over hurdles. He was with us last year but didn’t get quite a lot done because he’s a big solid horse who needed time. This is his first day at school and he might just need it, but his work has been to a good standard, and he shouldn’t be far away.

Noble Park (David Bass)

He’s another chap with a very nice pedigree and undoubtedly has a bright future ahead. He does need to settle down a little bit, because he can be quite fizzy, but he’s alright and more than capable of making his presence felt if he relaxes. He does go nicely.

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