Gaelic Ice Off The Mark At Chepstow

Lightly raced Iceman four-year-old Gaelic Ice got off the mark at Chepstow on Bank Holiday Monday. She only had three starts at three, showing ability when second at Kempton and has strengthened up over the winter. She has been consistent this year, finishing placed in handicaps at Windsor and Ffos Las but dominated her rivals dropped into selling company under a competent ride from Pat. Hopefully this confidence boost will enable her to win again back in handicap company.

Shergar Cup Third For Icebuster

After a couple of below par efforts, it was a return to form from Icebuster as he stayed on well for third in the 1m4f event at Ascot's Shergar Cup. He settled very nicely under German rider Andrasch Starke (rode Danedream to win the King George) and looked dangerous entering the final two furlongs but he couldn't reel in the front two. It was another solid effort but he is plenty high enough in the weights at the moment.

We also had Shahdaroba in the three year old sprint with Kieran Fallon in the plate but it was a rare disappointing effort from the Haatef gelding as he was a well beaten seventh. Perhaps the drop back to six furlong was against him but a mark of 94 does make life hard.

Meanwhile, Gaelic Ice ran another solid race at Windsor, finishing thrid in the ten furlong handicap and once again she has shown enough to suggest she can win a race.

Four At Ffos Las

It's a busy Tuesday evening at Ffos Las, with four runners at the Welsh track, although all four would probably be happier if some of the heavy rain showers hit the track. We have two in the fillies sprint, with both Ivors Princess and Madame Kintyre needing to find some form. Ivors Princess made a great start to her three-year-old career, winning her first two starts with ease at Salisbury but was absolutely hammered by the handicapper as she went up a whopping 18lbs. She then lost her confidence when racing in a higher grade and had a setback in the spring which has delayed her return to the track. Hopefully the smaller field will help her gain some confidence but she will probably strip fitter for the outing. Madame Kintyre has had a lot of problems since denied by a short-head at Windsor in June and although well handicapped, she has completely lost her way. Hopefully the small field will also help her gain some confidence as if returning to form she could certainly go very close but we will be happy if she just gets involved. Sweet Alabama went off too hard in first-time blinkers when fourth at Leicester, having looked likely to win entering the final furlong, which showed she's certainly capable of winning a race. She hasn't repeated the form on two subsequent starts and would prefer some rain today but off a light weight, she's capable of placing at least. Gaelic Ice has been in good form since the hood was applied, having a troubled run when second at Windsor and then got stuck a little wide when third stepped up to twelve furlongs at Ffos Las last time. Dropped into a weak 0-55 handicap, she should go very close and hopefully she gets off the mark as we could do with a winner, as we have found ourselves on the cold list, despite most of the horses running well recently.

Progressive three-year-old Astrum runs on the AW at Lingfield on Wednesday and although we would prefer turf, there are only eight runners and hopefully the weather isn't quite as hot as it will help reduce the kickback, which is particularly bad in the summer. As long as he handles the AW, he should go very close as it doesn't look the strongest of races and he was unlucky not to get his third win of the season when second at Pontefract last time as he was left with too much to do, having been hampered at the start. We also have Into The Wind at Sandown in the evening, the obvious question mark against her is the rise in grade as she is at her most competitive when racing at Class 6 level. However, she is progressing with age and her chance would be greatly increased if the thunderstorms hit Sandown as she loves soft ground. She had too much ground to make up last time and is better in smaller fields so she certainly won't be disgraced.

Lots Of Recent Places

It has been a few weeks since a news update and although we would like some more winners, the horses have been running well in recent weeks. It was a very narrow defeat for Gladiatrix when she was denied by a short head at Newmarket on Friday evening, with the rejuvenated Tax Free taking advantage of a reduced handicap mark but Gladiatrix posted a career best effort in the process so we can't be disappointed. She had been unlucky on her two previous starts, a bad draw at Sandown costing her victory when third and then got badly hampered at Salisbury next time out. Another homebred filly to be busy is Gaelic Ice who has posted solid second and thirds at Windsor and Ffos Las in the last ten days.

We took two of the Links Partnership's horses to Haydock earlier in the month and both Astrum and Icebuster ran good races, both finishing second to useful horses. Astrum was unlucky not to go one better when second again at Pontefract on Monday, unfortunately he got hampered at the start and was too far behind to catch the winner. His attitude has been brilliant this year and he has improved with every start.

Unfortunately we did endure disappointment at Royal Ascot as Master Carpenter was only fourteenth in the Chesham Stakes. It wasn't ideal for him to make the running on Ascot's straight track and perhaps he may benefit from dropping back to six furlongs but no obvious excuse has come to light and we will just ignore that effort and he will be out again shortly.