Richard Fahey: Ladies can be First
We're starting to finalise plans for one or two of our bigger names and Gabrial is set to run in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. There aren't many races for these horses, Marwan (Koukash) is keen to go there so we'll go and take Frankel on!
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One horse we won't be seeing again in the near future though is Mickdaam. We had been thinking about a potential run in the Ladbrokes St Leger but he's been given a little holiday and will be rejoining Mike De Kock. He's been on the go since being a two-year-old and needed a break so is having one and it will do him the world of good.
After a frustrating Royal Ascot it's been nice to be back among the winners of late. The two-year-olds have been shaping well which is encouraging but a lot of the older horses are badly handicapped and therefore hard to win with. We'll keep trying though.
Saturday team:
Kyllachy Star is our first runner on Saturday in the Coral Challenge at Sandown. He has been a little disappointing this year and is one of those that I feel is badly handicapped - that said he has started to come down a few pounds now. He's in good form, we're happy with him but any rain would help down there.
Myplacelater has a bit to find with three or four of her rivals in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock but we'll drop her in and try and get a place if we can. She should handle the ground which is a big plus this weekend.
We've two runners in the British Stallion Studs E.B.F. Leisure Furnishings Maiden Stakes at Beverley. Diggory Delvet is making his debut and is owned by David Barker. He might just need the run but is sharp enough and I'd expect him to win this year, although maybe not first time.
We also run Avec Rose and we can't believe she got beat first-time-out. She's a very good horse at home, a long way ahead of our other two-year-old fillies, and I just don't know what happened at Warwick. We blamed the heavy ground there and if it got very soft here she might not run but she works like our best two-year-old filly and we'll see what happens here.
It's good to have Paul Hanagan available to ride Ladys First in the Coral Distaff at Sandown following his bad fall at Newmarket last week. I didn't see it but realised it was serious when I received so many calls immediately afterwards.
Anyway he's been back in Malton this week and is ready to return which is great news. He rides a very nice filly here but Starscope looks like she'll be tough to beat. The track and trip are ideal for Ladys First though and I'll put her up each-way as my Sky Bet charity bet this week. I'd be thrilled if she was placed.
Marino Commando has been very disappointing this year but I stuck blinkers on him the other day and he flew in them. He runs in the Coachman Caravans Quality Handicap at Beverley. He's down in grade, this is probably the worst race he's ever contested in his life, and while he has a lot of weight we've stuck George (Chaloner) on him to take seven pounds off. If he came back to his best and the blinkers work he has a big chance.
Bayan Kasirga runs in the mobile at bet365.com Nursery Handicap at Haydock. She's had three runs and got better with each one, including a warm race at Kempton last time. She's very genuine and tries hard and horses like that always have a chance - as she does here.
Glen's Diamond runs in the Coral Marathon at Sandown having been very disappointing at Pontefract last time. His two disappointing runs this year have been on soft ground so if it rains heavily at the track he won't run but if he came back to his Yorkshire Cup form from May he'd have a big chance. He needs to bounce back from that Pontefract run though.
Alben Star is a horse who needs racing although if it got very soft for the bet365 Conditions Stakes at Haydock I'm not sure he'd run. He was a bit keen in the Wokingham and got tanking under Paul. When he took it up I thought he was going to win but he'd done too much, too early. It's hard to find races for these horses but I want to keep him racing to keep on top of him. He has a few pounds to find with one or two of these but we'll see.
Henry Bee is due to run at Warwick on Friday and is in the Coachman Maiden Stakes at Beverley just in case that meeting is off. He just can't win a race. He ran well the other day but was just outbattled. He has the ability to win - probably deserves to - but is making it tough for himself.
Boom And Bloom is a very tough, very genuine filly who tries very hard. She runs in the Andersons Maiden Auction Stakes at Carlisle. She was beaten a head the other day and a repeat of that form would probably be good enough. She looks the one to beat and I hope she wins, she deserves to.
Finally Sunnyside Tom runs in the Stobart Silver Cup on the same card. I'd be surprised if he could win as the handicapper has him. If we don't run them, they don't come down, and I'd be a little worried about the ground but we'll see.