Monday 20 February
Apasionado has been entered in Saturdays Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle in Kempton. He now has 3 entries - Doncaster Wednesday, Huntingdon Thursday, and the Dovecote. We will look at the races this afternoon and decide where to go. Tricky Silence is entered in Warwick on Friday - he will only go on ground no worse than Good To Soft, so if they miss the bit of rain that is forecast, and it continues to dry he will take his chance. The same applies to Maria's Benefit who id entered in the bumper. If the ground is too soft for them it should be ideal for Grey Warbler, and she could run there. If Apasionado runs on Saturday, he looks like being partnered by his old pal Josh Moore, who, his agent informs us will be back riding on Saturday. Looking forward, the spring is near now, and a few target races are looming large. For the Festival - there is Apasionado, who has an entry in The Supreme, and will also have an entry in The County Hurdle. Domesday Book was purchased for Mr Humberstone to run in Cheltenham in March and he is on course for one of the handicaps over 3m+. He ran a really good debut for Stuart last week, over what is now clear, is a very inadequate trip. If anyone needed an indication of the sort of job Stuart and his team can do, then just look at the figures Domesday Book posted in Leicester. He has run to career high Racing Post Rating, and Timeform Rating - off of his highest ever official rating. Having come from Henry De Bromhead, this is no small feat - and proof that if they get the right ammunition - they can really get the best out of them. Molly Childers will head to Sandowns Listed Mares Bumper on March 11th. Stuart and I will discuss wether headgear is employed there or not. The other smart bumper mare in the yard, Maria's Benefit will have one more run before heading to Aintree's Listed Mares Bumper, where a speed test will suit her very well. Grey Warbler still has the option of Sandown - but Stuart could well lower her sights later this week if the ground permits. Either of these mares, if considered good enough, and if they keep their form could head to Punchestown's Listed bumper in April.
