Richard Fahey Column: Brian The Snail back on track

We had a great day last Saturday with five winners headlined by Ribchester’s victory in the Lockinge at Newbury. He’s come out of it really well. You could tell he’d had a race the next morning, but he has bounced back and all roads lead to Royal Ascot.

Looking ahead to this weekend and Right Touch is our first runner in the Constant Security Handicap at York. He’s as high as he’d want to be in the handicap but there aren’t many runners in here and the small field could suit him. It doesn’t seem there are too many highly progressive sorts and it looks a nice race to run in.

Peter Leonard makes his debut in the Yorkshire Regiment British EBF Novice Median Auction Stakes. He’s nice and we like him. He’s quite laidback so whether he’s tuned up enough to win this on debut I wouldn’t know but he’ll pick up a maiden somewhere.

Clef is very tough and genuine and had a great season at two. We’re happy with her right now and the step up in trip in the Infinity Tyres British EBF Fillies' Handicap should suit on pedigree. I’d never draw a line through her.

Bahamian Bird is on a roll this year and is in great form right now. She’s drawn wider than I’d like in 18 for the John Wright Electrical Handicap and she needs to step up again to win from out there. She’s working well though.

I thought Suegioo ran well in the Chester Cup – he flew home up the straight that day from a terrible draw. Haydock should suit him and the handicapper has started to give him a chance so I hope he runs well in the Amix Ready Mixed Concrete Handicap.

We’ve three in the Amix Silver Bowl Handicap. Areen Heart is drawn out in 15 – it’s not where I want to be with him. He’s a horse I really like, he ran well at Chester, but will need all the luck from out there.

Cullingworth has fared better in seven. He is what he is and has already picked up a £50,000 pot at Musselburgh this year. We’ll give it a go in another valuable race here and hope they go a good gallop as he’ll hopefully be picking them up late.

Society Red is also in on Friday, but the owner wants to come here which you can understand. He has a good draw and I’ve always felt that he’s the sort to pick up a decent race somewhere. It would be great if this was it for all he’s out of the handicap. 

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Brian The Snail is on a retrieval mission in the Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes. I don’t know what happened at York with him, he just never ran his race. We were very happy with him going into it – and have been very happy with him since.

We haven’t been able to find any excuse, other than the ground, but he won on soft at two, albeit at a much lower level. We’ve always thought he’s very decent and I hope he gets back on track here.

I’d love to pick up some black type with Mayfair Lady in the EBF Stallions Cecil Frail Stakes. She runs well here which offers hope and I think she’s got a chance of being placed.

Six Strings is a horse I’ve always liked. He reappears in the closing Armstrong Family Support The ABF Handicap and while it looks very competitive, I hope he goes well.

To be at his best Gabrial’s Kaka needs rain ahead of the MBNA Handicap. It is forecast to come at some stage on Saturday but Marwan Koukash likes Chester and he’ll run whether it arrives before the race or not.

We also run Penwortham. It’s a question of whether he’s going to stay. He’s been a little out of form but has started to be given a bit of a chance by the handicapper and he’d have place claims here if seeing it out.

Energia Fox ran well here the last day. She came there and looked like winning but may just have needed it. She’s entitled to come forward and I’d love to see her win the Caldwell Construction Handicap for Marwan.

Gabrial’s King is a funny horse who has two ways of running but he’s won here before and would have a big chance in the Mionetto Prosecco Handicap if it was a going day.  He’s in great form at home and looks really well.

Our final two runners are at Goodwood.

The Wagon Wheel is 5lb out of the handicap in the Winners Are Welcome At Matchbook Handicap but I’m hoping stepping up to seven furlongs will bring about some improvement. I was a little disappointed with her reappearance at Newmarket but she’s drawn well here and it would be no shock if she ran a big race.

The handicapper is starting to give Angel Gabriel a bit of a chance which is great. While we dropped Suegioo in during the Chester Cup we had to go forward with this fellow and he ended up doing a lot of the donkey work through nobody’s fault. 

He’s getting dangerously well handicapped now so must have a small chance in the Gentleman's Measure In Memory Of Phil Wiggins Handicap.