On the face of it Sea Of Heartbreak was rather disappointing yesterday at York but there may have been reasons. She seemed to be rather fresh and full of herself before the race and was perhaps using too much energy and not really getting enough cover. In the straight she moved up but then got a bit squeezed for room which coincided with getting tired, as a result she faded to finish last. I thought that she was fitter but hopefully the race will have done her some good and she can get back on Group form  soon.

Rosie Probert ran an eyecatching race to finish 3rd having been "all at sea" in the early stages of the race with Hayley nudging her along from the beginning. In the last two furlongs she picked up really well and produced a good turn of foot to make up a considerable amount of ground.  She should have learnt plenty and a mile and a half on a more galloping track should suit her in the future.

Our only runner today is Waterclock (Ire)   in the 3.45pm at Newbury.  He sprung a little bit of a surprise to win first time out over a mile at Newbury in the Autumn but he should improve as he was inexperienced that day and had suffered from sore shins during the summer. His pedigree would suggest that todays trip should suit but it is a competitive race with plenty of good opposition, but he is progressing well in his work at home.

 

Waterclock (Ire)

 

Sea Of Heartbreak (Ire) runs at York in a really competitive Middleton Stakes a Group 2 for mares.  She should never be under estimated as she is so enthusiastic and consistent and her work has been as good as ever.  In her last race in the E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, she came from an impossible position to be beaten a length and a half on ground that she did not particularly like. It is impossible to know whether they have improved from four to five, but she is everybodys favourite here and even with a penalty, she should run well.

Sea of Heartbreak (Ire)

Rosie Probert has taken time to mature both mentally and physically and there should be improvement to come as she gets stronger. She is bred to stay well and is a half sister to Clowance House who won a mile and a half maiden race at Salisbury a few years ago. She is starting to show some promise in her work and I am looking forward to seeing her run.

Rosie Probert

 

It was very exciting to watch Dedication get up and win by a nose at Kempton last night. Yet again James Doyle gave her a good ride taking the initiative on the bend to get into a good position and having received a hefty bump, she did well to win without having too hard a race. She should be suited by a mile and a half as long as the handicapper rates her below 80 she might have a chance of winning again.

Definightly has been declared a non runner at York today as his preference is for soft or heavy ground.

Dedication should be suited by going up in distance having been a rather immature filly last year, both mentally and physically.  She is not mad about the kickback at home but we seem to have very few opportunities with the ground being so soft  and the weather being so unsettled.  Stir Trader (Ire)  is a non runner as he was slightly stiff  behind yesterday morning.

 

Dedication

I got the impression that Estrela probably did not stay the mile and a half in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on Saturday and she was easily beaten by the impressive winner Vow who must have a good chance of being placed in the Oaks.  Estrela did at least achieve being Listed race placed and obtaining some black type which pleased her owner who intends to breed from her.  I will be looking for Listed races over 10 furlongs on fast ground during the summer and hope that one day she might win one.

No runners today.

Selfara was perhaps a bit disappointing yesterday and James reported that she did not really handle the bend and got a little unbalanced in the closing stages and perhaps the penny has not quite dropped yet. I am sure there is improvement to come and perhaps 6 furlongs on the turf will suit her better.  Lovage ran well on her reappearance but was short of space when she needed it and finished a good third.

Estrela is our only runner today and it is a touch experimental as her pedigree has a mixture of speed and stamina. Her sire Authorized stayed really well but her dam Wannabe Grand won the Cheveley Park over 6 furlongs and most of her progeny do not stay a mile and a half. Ideally I would have liked to of run her over 10 furlongs and on fast ground but she must have a good chance if she gets the trip of least gaining some black type.

 

Estrela

 

We send two three year old fillies to Lingfield this afternoon with Selfara running in the first division of the 7 furlong maiden race at 3.15pm. She unfortunately sat back in the stalls and completely fluffed the start on her debut at Newbury a month ago.  As long as she does not miss the break again, she should run well.

Selfara nearside working with Inchina

Lovage was slightly disappointing last year being placed on several occasions but I hope that she may have strengthened up during the winter and she ought to be competitive in this grade.

 

Lovage

 

 

A nice across the card double for Selkirk yesterday afternoon with Rosslyn Castle winning the last at Chester and Priceless Jewel winning the 8.00pm at Kempton.  Conditions had become very testing with continued rain on and off during the afternoon at Chester and Rosslyn Castle produced a gutsy and much improved effort to win what appeared to be a competitive handicap. He clearly stays well and there should be fun times ahead with him.  Unfortunately Inchina did not seem to reproduce her form and never seemed to be travelling. At Kempton Zamarelle looked extremely one paced and clearly needs a greater test of stamina, having travelled well she was unable to quicken in the last two furlongs.  Priceless Jewel did exactly what I hope she might, winning narrowly and likely to go up 4 or 5 lbs for future handicaps. There are some valuable sprint handicaps for three year olds which will be on her agenda before moving up to 7 furlongs. She looked professional and has the scope to continue improving.

A mud splattered Rosslyn Castle with his owner's proud daugter

Inchina runs in the Cheshire Oaks on ground that is likely to be soft which should suit her and I hope she handles the sharp track. There are several fillies with a higher rating but like most of the others, I hope that we can gain some black type and it will tell us whether she goes back to handicaps in the future.

Inchina

Rosslyn Castle was given a rating of 87 after his victory at Windsor and nothing has subsequently run out of the race to boost the form and I am a little concerned that as he is such a good mover he maybe inconvenienced should the ground become very chopped up and testing by the last race. His dam Margarula won the Irish Oaks for Jim Boldger on soft ground The step up in trip should suit and he has been regularly worked round our valley gallop which has several sharp turns.

Rosslyn Castle

Zamarelle runs in a handicap for the first time, she is a good moving filly that needs a trip but perhaps lacks a turn of foot. As I own and bred her I am naturally hoping she can win by at least 20 lengths !

Zamarelle

Priceless Jewel ran out an easy winner over 6 furlongs at Newbury in the Autumn and she should be suited by 7 furlongs and a mile later in the summer, There are a few interesting runners in todays race but I am expecting her to run well as her work has been encouraging, but I would have preferred to have run her on the turf but unfortunately there are no suitable races which aren't being run on soft or heavy ground.

Priceless Jewel

Supreme Quest had rather a rough time at Kempton yesterday, having been flattened as the horses left the stalls and barged a furlong later which resulted in her sitting last until she made good progress all the way up the straight. She handled the surface well and  hopefully we can find a maiden race on fast ground later this month.  Alvitude (USA) missed the break again and from his wide draw, James Doyle sensibly dropped him in, again it was a rough race and he was not able to start a run until they entered the straight. He stayed on well and will in due course be suited by 10 or 12 furlongs.  I was pleased with Camberley Two who in the past has not coped with any form of kickback and as this was his first try on the polytrack he ran an encouraging race staying on and suggesting that 10 furlongs would be within his capabilities.

No runners today but Inchina, Rosslyn Castle and Cry Fury leave at midday today to travel to Chester where I hope that the ground is not too soft as there is a forecast of more rain yet again.