Winning Groove for the week

Bags Groove was excellent at Huntingdon on Sunday.

We went there with a view that this was a trial for the three-mile Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day, and all roads now definitely lead to Kempton.

It was a really good performance and an exciting display.

He proved he clearly gets three miles and a flat right-handed track like Kempton will suit him well.

Obviously he’s going to have to step up again, taking on the likes of La Bague Au Roi and Santini, but we’re really looking forward to it.

Boxing Day could be a busy one, with If The Cap Fits most likely to go for the Christmas Hurdle.

Before that we’re looking at Unowhatimeanharry heading to the Long Walk at Ascot next week, along with The Last Samuri, who’ll hopefully make his debut for us in the Garrard Silver Cup.

Jolly’s Cracked It is also in the big handicap hurdle.

Outofthisworld was beaten at odds-on at Fontwell on Tuesday but we were still pleased with the performance.

I think a combination of her running into a good horse of Alan King’s, whilst carrying a penalty, cost us.

We’re just pleased she ran a solid race and we’ll see what the handicapper makes of it.

Get In The Queue didn’t look like winning for a lot of the way at Uttoxeter, also on Tuesday, as he was very green and on and off the bridle, but Michael Legg gave him a great ride.

The penny dropped late and he pulled away to win very nicely in the end.

He’s a lovely young horse who will stick to bumpers and maybe just run a couple of times before being put away ahead of a hurdling campaign next season.

It was lovely to race to win, as Neon Wolf won it back in 2016. If she can fill his shoes we’d be very happy.

Cheltenham on Saturday

Hell’s Kitchen  will need some rain to fall to let him take his chance in the two-mile handicap chase (13:20). He’s a very big horse and needs a bit of give in the ground.

We wouldn’t want too much rain to arrive, though, as we’ve got Definitelyanoscar  in the mares’ handicap hurdle (15:40), and she certainly does like better ground.

I think she can be competitive off her mark of 122 and the nature of a truly run handicap at Cheltenham will suit her better as she prefers to be held up off a good gallop.

Hopefully Noel Fehily will get the opportunity to bring her through horses late.

As for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, Gary Moore might be thinking it’s Christmas come early.

His Baron Alco won very nicely in the big handicap last time and has gone up just 6lbs – I had one who finished second last week and he’s gone up 5lbs.

Hereford

Onefortheroadtom  was slightly disappointing on his debut over fences at Ascot, but it’s important to get experience under his belt over fences.

He should be better for having that run and will hopefully put up an improved performance in the novices’ chase (13:45).

As for Steel Bob  in the stayers handicap hurdle (14:55), it’s a bit of a last chance saloon. He didn’t show us much at Chepstow after a long lay-off and needs to take a big step forward.

It’s a race that he should be able to get competitive in, but we’ll have to wait to see.

Matthey Syed on banning of the whip

I totally stand by the BHA’s response to the article in the paper this week regarding banning of the whip.

Put simply, we don’t work with racehorses to see them in pain. We love and adore them with a passion that people in the outside world will never understand.

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