Review of the day

Well, that’s Fergal off the Christmas card list L

We were on 3 of his horses this afternoon and all of them failed to trouble the judge.

Worse still, they were joined by 2 others, who didn’t perform much better…

All in all, not the best of days.

Running briefly through the tips:

Balzaccio was the first to run but a nasty mistake down the back straight probably cost him whatever chance of success he might have had.

To be honest, it is highly unlikely he would have coped with Pepite Rose, whatever. She was officially the best horse running today – and judged on the way she routed the opposition, she will be even further clear once the official assessor has adjusted her mark…

There was then a very poor 10 minutes, in which first Down Ace, then Allerton – and finally Stagecoach Pearl, all disappointed…

Stagecoach Pearl was probably the most disappointing of the trio.

Backed into joint favouritism, his chance of success was improved markedly when fellow front runner, Kie, unseated at the third fence, leaving him with an uncontested lead.

However, the old legs weren’t up to the job, and writing looked to be on the wall as he needed to be ridden into each fence.

Sure enough the pack closed at the end of the back straight – and he was soon beaten…

Down Ace raced prominently at Newbury – but found little when put under pressure in the home straight; Whilst Allerton travelled nicely enough to a point, at Stratford – but didn’t have anything left when the pace quickened with half a mile to go…

Dolores Delightful was the final tip of the day to run – and I briefly held out hope that she might save the day…

Backed into favouritism at the off, she looked to be travelling very nicely down the back straight but then hit a flat spot.

By the time she had consented to run on, the winner had flown and although she reduced the deficit to 9 lengths at the line, she still finished well beaten…

There was no joy from the mentions either - though both Gullinbursti and The Pier ran well enough to be placed.

The latter was actually a little unlucky to bump into a horse bouncing back to form and would have been a fair winner without him in the race.

The suggestion was that The Pier might well be one to be with next time out…

Finally, the days Top Pick, The Warden, just couldn’t quite catch the front running Heavenstown.
As they approached the final hurdle, it looked as if The Warden was going to get on top – but Heavenstown put his head back down and outbattled him.

A frustrating end to a disappointing day.

I don’t know about the horses, but I’m beginning to feel like I need a summer break myself..!

TVB.