The Last Bottle , known as Pop, came through his racecourse gallop at Wolverhampton without any problems and will have certainly tightened him up a little. It is hoped he will run in early December.
A deal was finally done last week, enabling our old favourite to remain in training with Mark Brisbourne. An existing owner has taken him on fully aware of his problems. It is hoped that all concerned have a little luck with the horse, as he has served us well and deserves a change of fortune followed by a decent retirement.
Monday will see the return to the track for The Last Bottle after twelve months off when he will take part in a racecourse gallop after racing at Wolverhampton. The four year old is reported in great shape but is obviously very fresh after such a layoff and it is hoped this will knock the freshness off him as well as bringing his fitness up a level. We are hoping for a return to racing action early in December.
Dr Mathias has settled in well at Kinsale for his winter holiday, if he does as well there as The Last Bottle did physically I still feel we could have a nice three year old in 2010.
We have now purchased a yearling by Refuse To Bend to be in traing next year with Alan Swinbank. He is being gelded next week and has settled in to his surroundings at The New Yard at Thorndale very well and everyone is pleased with his attitude so far.
Baizically was sold last week at Newmarket and is believed to have gone in training in Ireland looking to a National Hunt career. We wish him well.
Looking at the football fixtures I have to be realistic and think that Wolves will be in the bottom 3 at year end. There seems to be optimism that we are doing better than last time in the Premiership, that of course is true but that was so far short along with McCarthy's other venture with Sunderland, anything other than improvement would have been shocking and embarrassing. Failing to take more than a point from home fixtures against Portsmouth, West Ham and Hull shows the limitations, along with goal per game average given the fixtures were weaker in the first quarter. The current general price of 11/8 and 6/4 with a couple of firms looks a reasonable bet for relegation in my opinion.
