Skies over Epsom Downs. Shepherds beware. Round up those flocks…
Ascot. Love the place. A track that has given us many happy days, and memories to latch onto when the going gets a little tough. Which is inevitable and unavoidable in this sport of our’s. Any sport actually…
TEX has been an enigma and a frustration and a disappointment along the way. 2-year-old promise, but then a 3-year-old season of finding ways of not winning horse races. Less patient owners could easily have called time…
But thankfully Messrs MacHale, Fish, Tracey and Dunne stuck with their grey horse. This season began with a bonkers defeat at Leicester. Losing 7 or so lengths out of the stalls when rearing madly and beaten half a length at the line – same old Tex….?!
A win under Pat Cosgrave at Ascot a few weeks back was followed by “eyecatching” at Glorious and “unlucky” in the Brighton Mile. For more than a few strides yesterday, “unlucky” looked to be looming large again. Alice Crowley, Jim’s daughter, kicking clear on Dannick as Tex and Brodie Hampson struggled for a gap from behind an obstinate wall of horses…
Brodie pulling hard and right and into clear sailing, but Dannick gone for all money…
6 or 7 lengths to make up through the final furlong. Flying fast and late and drifting left to eyeball his opponent, we got home cosily in the end. A first ride for us for Brodie who reported that Tex loved all the trouble. Tough watch – that became, thankfully, a cool watch…
And meaning that the bottle that Mark Tracey and I shared over a post race lunch came from the proper end of the list…
Later on at Kempton, in the “Way Past Bedtime Handicap”, Must Believe finished a highly creditable 2nd under Jack Dace on his first try over two miles. He definitely got the trip, and options aplenty are now opened up. A likeable and tough and hardy horse…
Back to Ascot today. Now Maybe (Jack Callan) having his first run for us. The “rag” in early betting. Learning day. A first runner for us in the colours of Shaikh Salman bin Al Khalifa…
Nesthorn to York tomorrow. Benoit up. Rain softened ground will suit as will the track. Proper horse who has run with credit since his Bahrain win without having much in his favour…
“Blood red” has turned to “watery blue”…
Must dash. Horses to gallop and plans to discuss…
