Someone forgot to read the script yesterday and I think it
might have been me. With only three races of interest starting with the 6:20. With
Secret Glance (opened 5-2) having poached a 5 length lead and Hills And Dales (opened
7-2) travelling strongly and likely to be the horse most likely to offer a
challenge, a 1st and 2nd looked on the cards. Enter Royal
Silk. Flying in the final furlong from back to front at 33-1 under
Twiston-Davies to spoil the party.
With Star Of The Stage (8-1) only able to finish 3rd
in the 6:50 and the withdraw of Grey Mirage in the 7:20 the day rested on Classic
Mission (13-2) and McBirney (opened 4-1). The latter being backed like defeat
was out of the question.
If the finishing time of the Charlie Hall Chase made us question
the actual distance the race was run over. The last race at Kempton Park left
me questioning whether they had run too far. The race was run in such a
pedestrian pace in the opening stages, you would be forgiven for thinking that
the field were cantering to the start. The end result being a battle up the
straight between Cataria Girl and our selection Classic Mission with the former
holding sway.
While we were hitting the bar continuously at Kempton Park, we
were racking up top rated winners at Dundalk with Wychwood Warrior (3-1),
Sirikoi (1-2), Whaileyy (9-4) and Minot Street (4-1) all scoring.
We have a busy two days ahead with 2 meetings today and 3 on
Friday and although we are looking at what I perceive to be several good, nicely
priced opportunities at Southwell today, I am little concerned over how the
course will run with the change in the weather.
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