Walcot Square out on the gallops. He is running at Newbury tomorrow afternoon in the 5.25 pm race with Neil Callan aboard.

SPOKEN

Spoken out on the Beckhampton gallops, he is due to run at Newmarket tomorrow afternoon in the 3.55 pm race with Jim Crowley down to ride.

We had a great deal of excitement on Thursday morning watching the Weatherbys screen to see whether Definightly would be balloted out of the Ayr Gold Cup.  It always looked as if he would not quite make the cut although there were other horses that got into the race who were on the same weight, so he is now top weight in the Silver Cup. He is in terrific form although a long journey overnight to Ayr and having his third race in 3 weeks is not an ideal preparation for the most valuable race that he has ever run in.  According to Timeform whose opinion I respect, he has 12lbs in hand of most of the runners apart from Advanced (formerly trained at Beckhampton) who is 5lbs behind him.  He is being ridden by a very exciting young apprentice Adam Beschizza  who claims 5 lbs and who has ridden nearly 40 winners this year. There is some rain forecast tomorrow which would also help him, so fingers crossed that he will complete a great run for his owner/breeder Simon and Rosalind Emmet.

Genki returns to Ayr for his second attempt to win the Gold Cup . There was a certain amount of research done to try and decide what is likely to be a good draw in Saturdays race.  The decision was virtually  made for us as he was drawn "out of the hat" towards the end of the proceedings and there were very few choices as to which stall would be allocated to him. He has ended up in stall 11 next to the favourite Poet's Place. I was pleased to see that Prime Exhibit who is a front runner drawn 3 and also Knot In Wood can make the running and was drawn 13.  Steve Drowne's instructions will be to follow the favourite and sail past him as they run to the line and not to give him too hard a race !  I am really pleased with his condition and mental state, he seems very focused and his 'prep race ' in a Group One, finishing 3rd was perfect. It will be interesting to see how the draw works out today in the Bronze Cup as the latest going stick readings are confusing with 10.1 on the stand rails and 9.3 on the far side which would suggest that the ground is good to firm or faster but apparently still described as good to soft.

Silbury is a sweet filly but still a little highly strung and I am pleased to see that there is a small field at Newbury today which should suit her. She likes fast ground and I hope dropping back in trip to 6 furlongs will also be to her advantage. At this stage of her development she is not yet at her full strength so will improve with time.

Truly Asia ran well last time at Folkestone but he was not really suited by the undulating track and sharp bend, he deserves to run a better race today.

Marlinka travelled overnight and arrived in good shape this morning at Ayr. I am hoping that the ground will continue to dry out as she is suited by a fast surface but todays race look competitive with plenty of front runners and in an ideal world she likes to dominate and lead from the front. Looking at the programme book there are virtually no alternative races for her over 5 furlongs before the end of the season.

Click on this link to read interview with Matt Chapman

http://blogs.bettor.com/Roger-Charlton-is-Definightly-hopeful-for-Ayr-Gold-Cup-a27306
 

Sugar Beet  made all to win in good style, she seemed to be well suited to the poly track and for a daughter of Beat Hollow ( Sadler's Wells) she showed plenty of zip to win over 6 furlongs.  She may run again with a 6 lb penalty if the right opportunity comes along as she ran at Bath last week (placed 3rd) rated 62 and yesterday she won on a rating of 65.  The good news is that for entries made before Sunday her rating is back to 62, which if I haven't all ready lost you means that she could run at Folkestone on Tuesday or Wolverhampton on Thursday off 68 (ie) only plus 3 lb and not 6 lb.  Sorry all very confusing but fun trying to win more races before the Horses in Training Sales at Newmarket 26th October.

Sugar Beet unfortunately reared in the stalls at Bath although she went in last, she then broke fast and perhaps was doing too much in front. As there are so few opportunities for her, rating of  63 I was keen to run again so that she has a chance before she goes to the Sales in the Autumn.

I thought Sea Of Heartbreak ran right up to her best form, she travelled well on the bridle but unfortunately she came up against a potential Group performer.  A faster surface and perhaps it is debatable as to whether 10 furlongs or 12 suits her best.  She is a thoroughly likeable and genuine filly who I am sure will continue to improve and win again under the right conditions, either this year or next.

SEA OF HEARTBREAK ran her only disappointing race at the big Goodwood meeting at the end of July, she seemed to loose her footing on the top bend and she was heavily eased in the straight.  She returned stiff and sore behind but she appears to be completely over her problems.  She had won her previous four races and was on a real roll until the setback and I hope that she has the opportunity to show her true form this afternoon.  The race looks competitive and as long as the ground isn't riding too slow I am expecting her to be in the shakeup.

Avertor  slightly disappointed his followers again , he was up with the pace in a race that I thought would suit him but couldn't deliver a final 'kick'.  Perhaps he did a little too much and a return to being held up over 6 furlongs could produce a better result.  It will happen one day as he hasn't yet reach his full potential in my opinion.

Love Match   ran a another very sound race to be a close up 4th,  she just has too much weight to carry and she is a victim of her own consistency. She was raised 8 lbs after she won a weak race at Newbury and the handicapper is not being kind to her.

Marzante  ran well but perhaps didn't quite get the trip in slightly tacky ground, maybe a drop back to 7 furlongs will suit.  His mark of 79 looked to be lenient at first glance but Mr Tester the 2 year old handicapper was nearly spot on...77 would be fairer !

Definightly ...what can I say, was it the ground which he loves, or maybe the other runners didn't act on it,  or the blinkers which have produce two much improved results at Goodwood.  According to my 'ruler' on the frozen telly picture as he crossed the line, the distance was at least 7 lengths and not the official 6. It will be very interesting to see how the handicapper rerates him on Tuesday am, there is an argument to suggest that he could be rated at least 108 or even higher. Should he recover in time he could run in the Ayr Gold Cup at the weekend if he gets in with an 8lb penalty for winning two races since the weights were published, taking his weight to 8.11 ( rating 96). Can he win the Gold Cup with 12lbs plus in hand, who knows. It will be a challenge to win a race that for obvious reasons remains on my 'wish list' of big handicaps that have so far eluded Beckhampton...several near misses. Don't let's forget Genki who ran an encouraging trial in a Group 1 last weeken and, he is due to run off his old rating of 103 and is only 8lbs 'well in'.  It should be a fun week ahead, let's have some feedback or opinions on Twitter.