David Marshall's Blog, August 02
2 Aug
Today’s racing ayt Newton Abbot, Ripon, Carlisle & Windsor
There is always a quality gap on the level the first fortnight in August corresponding with the end of the Goodwood meeting until the Ebor meeting mid month at York. Ripon takes centre stage this afternoon with the feature a sprint handicap dominated by local trainers, with the prevailing fast ground I presume they will stay stands side. In stall three I take one of the three year old’s Midnight Martini to bounce back after her disappointing run in the big York sprint in June. Philip Robinson travels north for the sole ride on the Michael Jarvis trained Sarrsar,another three year old taking on his elders, hard to assess though with his connections he may not represent much value.
Newton Abbot provides the other afternoon action, Paul Nicholls has three runners, one in each of the novice events. Opening Meet was well beaten in a seller before winning at the beginning of July over course and distance, while in the same race Nicky Henderson’s Wilbury Star’s previous course third is beginning to read better with the victory of the second Battle Group, who won a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen yesterday. The other with winning form is Sadler’s Star partnered by Denis O’Regan whose only other ride at the meeting is in the finale,there is sure to be plenty of pace on in this event and though a nine year old Temple Place,a once decent flat horse has not a lot of mileage on the clock and the fast pace could just play into his hands,I hope to see a market move for him having secured double figured odds last night.
Windsor stages their customary Monday evening meeting and amazingly Richard Hannon has the favourite Native Picture for the juvenile for fillies! Probably a big shock if she gets turned over. Ryan Moore rides a Hughie Morrison debutant, one of four rides for the champion, while his title rival Paul Hanagan, after five rides at Ripon travels west for a further four rides at Carlisle in the evening, though it must be noted Philip Robinson makes the same trip to ride the one, again for Michael Jarvis, Parvaaz in the three year old handicap for the same owner as his Ripon mount.
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