Steelcut provided us with a very welcome first winner of the year at Dunstall Park last week. A combination of change in riding tactics and a better draw than on previous runs helped to bring about a very smooth performance. The only downside was previous trainer Andrew Reid forcing us to £ 4250 to buy him back at the auction. The plan is now to go to Chepstow on Bank Holiday Monday for a Veterans Sprint, undulating tracks have caused problems to him previously but it is local and a rare opportunity to run in a race confined to horses aged six and over.
William Haigh has declined his maiden at Hamilton due to the prevailing conditions. With very little threat of rain anywhere, we are now looking at getting a debut run in at Southwell on 4th or 10th May.
Si Sealy had a little more experience at Folkestone last week in a decent maiden for the track. He is not likely to show his best until asked to perform over longer trips in handicap company later in the year.
Went along to Molineux full of hope last Saturday but despite a 1-1 draw with Fulham I found it a thoroughly depressing afternoon. Little in the way of entertainment and with no apparent pattern of play at least by the home side. I fear the worst and honestly cannot see Wolves winning again this season, hopefully I am wrong. Steelcut drops back in to selling company this evening at Wolverhampton. Hopefully by dropping him in grade and back on a surface on which he has proven form we can put the poor effort on the undulations at Ripon behind us. Arduably his best form is at 5 furlongs but we hope that he will get away with it in the grade.
Si Sealy will go to Folkestone on Thursday in order to gain more experience. He was very green in the preliminaries at Lingfield and got outpaced in the race before staying on late. We expecthim to improve as he steps up in trip.
William Haigh is ready to make his racecourse debut but will not be running on firm ground, like many other stables we are waiting for rain.
Steelcut goes to Ripon today but once again has had desperate luck being drawn on the wide outside. He probably only has one option in a 5F sprint and that is to jump as quick as possible to try and overcome this berth. The market may oppose him to a point where he may become value to overcome the 1 stall.
Si Sealy will be declared to make his debut at Lingfield on Saturday. He is expected to need the experience but is being introduced at a sensible level in a maiden auction race.
Our stable visit to Alan Swinbank's yard went well this week. A good night was had by all at The Nags Head, Pickhill on Monday followed by gallops watching and stable tour on Tuesday morning. William Haigh is now within a couple of weeks of his debut, whilst Major Buckley continues to do everything asked of him at this stage and appears to be a real professional for his age and will hopefully be out in May.
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