Fridays News – and winner!

Superstar JUST PAUL does it again!

Congratulations to Paul and Jean Chapman & PJ McDonald with their winner at Musselburgh .

Musselburgh today, two runners and two good chances at our favourite track.

Cavalieri (pictured left with today’s jockey Eva Moscrop) attempts to double up following his Catterick success last week. he is 1lb out the handicap here but hopefully that will not inconvenience him, more on his plate will be the extra 2f but if he can get the trip anywhere it will be at Musselburgh. He is going to make a lovely juvenile hurdler later in the year along with our other nice staying 3 year old, Istimraar, who is in at Chester next week over 1m 4f.  I was a little concerned that the ground now says good to soft following rain yesterday and hope it won’t be too slow for Just Paul to be at his best. I think confidence would be a lot higher had it remained dry but he has a sound chance round a track he enjoys.

Triple Eight did not enjoy the soft ground at Sedgefield yesterday, Adam felt afterwards that he has got away with it on the flat over a shorter trip, but carrying top weight  on the holding surface over jumps just did not suit. He will wait for warmer days and may be seen next somewhere like Market Rasen if not back on the flat first.

Platinum and Full Speed went out into the field this morning, they have been on box rest and hand walking for a long time, but with half a tube of sedative each, they were dozy enough to safely go into the field and not run  wild on their precious legs. Platinum still woke up enough to have a good canter and buck but ‘Ryan’ was content to have a trot round and then get his head down to grass.

Platinum could not resist making about 100 of his trademark bucks and if the pair of them could smile they would have have been grinning from ear to ear! It was great to watch and they will now stay out all summer together.

I love this photo taken of our nephew’s,  Ellis and Callum Kirby at Punchestown in the excellent ‘Ballymana’ suite provided by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for all the English Owners & Trainers with runners at their festival.  The boys are studying the form in true Kirby style – Callum has already expressed a wish to be a jockey as he likes speed.

And some further photos of Aniknam looking smart at Punchestown before the off. He has come out of the race fine and is now on his summer holiday with plenty to look forward to next winter for this exciting future hurdler.