More Places!

Well we are now into March and we are still awaiting that elusive first winner of 2014 but the horses are running well with a 50% place strike rate. We are generally quiet during the winter months with a reduced string just ticking over but prize money wise, this looks set to be our best ever AW season, with over £28,000 in the bag. So far we have had twenty runners in 2014, racked up six seconds, two thirds and two fourths and £8,298, although it is certainly frustrating that one of those six seconds was not a winner!

Dance continues in good form on the AW this winter, making the running at Kempton on Thursday evening before being overcome by a 66/1 shot that had shown no worthwhile form in three months! However, she is certainly running well and the family improve with age so she should be winning soon. The waterlogged gallop, due to the never ending rain so far in 2014, meant that Wyndham Wave probably needed the run more than we thought on the same evening. The night before a slow pace was unsuitable for Ivors Princess but she ran a creditable race in fourth. The most important thing is that was three consistent efforts in a row on the polytrack at Kempton and she remains well handicapped.

Another Kempton Success For Wyndham

After finishing fourth at Kempton seven days previously, we were hopeful Wyndham Wave would go close in an apprentice handicap at his favourite track last Wednesday. He got a strong pace to chase and Pat slotted him nicely in behind the leaders. As a gap appeared at the intersection, Wyndham quickened nicely and battled on gamely in the first time hood and cheekpieces to land a third career success. It was also a welcome winner for Pat, his second since turning apprentice and his eighth in all. Without a penalty and racing off a one pound lower mark, our hand was forced to go to Ffos Las five days later but he only finished fifth, perhaps the race came too soon or he is just an AW specialist.

Dreamer Shows Homework On The Track

It was a busy Thursday evening at Chepstow with three runners and we nearly had another two-year-old winner as Urban Dreamer was narrowly denied by a neck. He was extremely disappointing when last on his debut at Bath, especially as his homework had been pretty promising beforehand. He was much better behaved last night and looked like winning before he was collared by the Hannon trained Hedge End in the final furlong. He was still a bit green and he should have no trouble in winning a maiden in the next few weeks. Ice Tres was a bit too keen in the early stages when fourth in the twelve furlong handicap and her run petered out inside the final furlong but wasn't disgraced. Wyndham Wave was disappointing on his return and will probably drop back to a mile next time.