Spent last week in York as part of my annual vsit to the Dante meeting, but the personal highlights of the week came in the William Hill studio in Leeds on Monday and Tuesday.
Steelcut bounced back at Wolverhampton on Monday to win for the second time under an excellent ride that we are now coming to expect from Cathy Gannon. His record in Selling and Claiming grade on polytrack remains at 100% , now 4-4.
Southwell on Tuesday evening saw the long awaited debut of William Haigh, our three year old son of Refuse To Bend. Despite not being fully wound up and being slightly tardy at the stalls, William soon recovered and travelled particularly well and despite tiring and being headed inside the final furlong showed a willing attitude to rally and regain the advantage close home.
Steelcut is entered at Haydock and Chester in handicap company and unless we get unforeseen rain I am planning to take our chance at The Roodeye.
William Haigh has been given a mark of 75 today. Ground conditions will dictate but races in early June at Pontefract and York are looking likely targets for his next race.
Si Sealy has grown up recently and has improved in his homework. We will look for a galloping 6 furlong race to suit.
Major Buckley is back in full work after a short break and should make his debut in June.
William Haigh will make his racecourse debut at Southwell on fibresand on Tuesday evening. We had hoped to run on turf but the prevailing fast ground would not be an ideal introduction for a heavy topped horse. After a small setback at two it is a long awaited debut and as long as he handles the unique surface we should learn a bit about where we are going with him in the coming weeks.
Steelcut is dropped back in to claiming company tomorrow evening and he has landed the inside draw in a competitive race. Cathy Gannon has the ride on him for the first time and if they hit it off he should go well.
