We do not seem to be having many runners at the moment, most of them have run quite alot recently and are due to a short break.

Striking Love runs this evening at Newmarket in a race where there are 19 runners. She is gradually improving but will need to step up again having been rather unlucky in her previous race at Newbury where she ran into all sorts of trouble, she is ridden by Johnny Fahy who I think is good value for his 5lb and has ridden several times for us in the past.  It would be great if we could have another winner for Striking Ambition who was a very tough and gutsy horse when in training here, who won the Golden Peitsche in Baden Baden on a Stewards Enquiry which was not a very popular result as the horse that was demoted had a big fan club in Germany.  He was also beaten a neck in the Prix De L'Abbaye by his stable companion Avonbridge.  Striking Ambition has had several runners that have showed plenty of promise including Striking Priorite who won for us at Kempton in the Spring.

Cheam Forever was not able to dominate the race as other horses wanted to make the running and he probably needs to drop a pound or two and go into a lower grade in the future.

Too Putra was disappointing but returned home sound and there is a possibility that a mile and three furlongs was too far for him so we will try a shorter trip next time in the hope that we can get back on track.

We have got two runners today, Cheam Forever runs at Brighton in the 3.30 pm race. He is suited by front running and he  won over the course and distance last year. Brighton has put on good prize money and therefore the race looks above average for the course. If he gets his own way he must have a chance.  Too Putra runs this evening at Kempton having made a very promising debut to win last November. That race turned out to be a very weak affair and having not run for so long, he will need to improve. I hope a mile and 3 furlongs is not too far for him and I would have preferred 10 furlongs but unfortunately there are no other suitable races.

Unfortunately he was not suited by the rather poached and lose ground in the Stewards Cup at the end of 5 days racing the ground had become rather cut up after the overnight rain which was certainly no fault of Seamus Buckley's who does a marvellous job at Goodwood, but sadly the only two races that Genki has run badly in are when he encountered this sort of going. Steve Drowne knew after two furlongs when Genki was still on the bridle that he was not handling the conditions. In an ideal world, he would like good to soft or even soft going but things did not work out for him on Saturday. We discovered on Sunday morning that he was extremely stiff and sore in his hind quarters and will have several days of walking and physiotherapy to help him through it.  I was delighted for my "old mate Dandy"  to have won the race yet again.

Walcot Square found the ground too slow for him and got a little tired in the closing stages but should improve.

Was not suited by the slow ground at Newmarket on his first re-appearance since the Spring.  Faster ground and an extra furlong in a few weeks time should suit him.

Ran his first race for us to finish in the middle having made good headway from the rear.  We should learn more about him in the future but he probably needs to drop down the handicap.

Was rather disappointing today but after the overnight rain, watered ground and 5 days of racing, the ground was very loose coming down the hill and Steve Drowne realized  at an early stage that he wasn't handling it.  It has happened once before on over-watered ground in the Wokingham last year.  Hopefully he will bounce back in the near future.  Hats off to Dandy - he is still the Sprint king!

Proponent ran his usual  game race at Goodwood yesterday. He was drawn badly and did not have the best of runs having to be switched left just over two furlongs out,  but he stayed on strongly  to finish 4th.

Proponet is in great form but runs in a hugely competitive race for a big prize at Goodwood today. Historically, it would appear that he needs to be drawn higher to give him a chance. He runs well very consistently, but his price is probably a true reflection of his chance.