Newbury last weekend

I was delighted to see Unowhatimeanharry get his head back in front last Friday. Although he was receiving weight from his rivals, he proved he can still be competitive in what is a very open division.

He’s got an entry in the Long Walk at Ascot and, all being well, we’ll head there next. We’ll take it one race at a time and we won’t get ahead of ourselves, but he’s come out of the race great and we look forward to enjoying him throughout the season.

Momella came down in the same race. She appeared to jump the hurdle fine before taking a false step or maybe overreaching slightly.

Her and Noel [Fehily] were both fine and she’s also got an entry in the Long Walk, though the race we’re really keen on is the Grade Two 3m mares’ hurdle at Ascot in January.

Between now and then, we could run her in the mares’ handicap hurdle the day after Boxing Day at Kempton.

Air Horse One carried top-weight in the 3m handicap at Newbury and finished down the field. He needs his mark to come down a bit and we may take him back over fences for the meantime to escape the handicapper.

As for American, he’s been up in Newmarket having a bone scan as we couldn’t find anything wrong with him when we got him home. There was clearly something amiss and we’re now just awaiting the findings of the scan.

Outofthisworld didn’t get to take her chance at Doncaster where the ground dried out more than expected and ended up being too fast for her.

She’s entered at Fontwell on Tuesday so hopefully we get the chance to run her there.

Bumper week

Whitehotchillifilli winning her bumper at Southwell on Tuesday was a very nice surprise. She hadn’t set the world alight at home and it just goes to show that you can never be sure what you’ve got until you get them on the track.

Michael Legg, who is our assistant and does a lot of work in the yard, gave her a nice ride. He knows the horses very well and it was great for him to have a winner.

From a handicapping point of view, Wotzizname finishing second, and a long way clear of third, in the 3m handicap hurdle wasn’t the best result as he’ll likely go up in the weights without winning.

It was a great run but we know we’re going to be frustrated by the handicapper’s response.

I then ran two in a nice mares’ bumper at Ludlow on Wednesday, where Misty Whisky won the race and Pogo I Am finished sixth.

Misty Whisky put the experience she gained at Aintree to good use and won nicely in the end. Pogo I Am made a pleasing debut and caught the eye running on late.

There’s a nice Listed mares’ bumper at Market Rasen in January, which Misty Whisky and Whitehotchillifilli could both go for.

Sandown on Saturday

Phoenix Way  makes his second start for us in the novices’ hurdle (12:15) having finished fifth on his debut.

He should be better for having that run under his belt and is open to improvement.

Secret Door  then runs in the mares’ handicap hurdle (12:50). If she applies herself then she’s weighted to run a good race.

Hopefully the cheekpieces will be the key for her as she won a valuable race at Haydock in them nearly two years ago. She’s not that trustworthy but is well capable of putting up a good performance off her current rating.

The Tingle Creek (15:00) is always a great race. You have exciting two-mile chasers at the top of their game going around Sandown – it’s one of the best things to watch in this sport.

Altior is the one they all have to beat, though he does face three dangerous challengers. He sets a very high standard and has all the form in the book and, like with Buveur D’Air at Newcastle last weekend, opposing a champion could prove costly.

The Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (13:50) is another fascinating race. Sandown is a very good test of jumping, so it will be interesting to see how the exciting novices like Lalor cope.

Huntingdon on Sunday

We thought about the Peterborough Chase (14:25) for Bags Groove, but he’s only a novice once and he’d be giving weight away outside of novice company having won the Rising Stars last time out.

Instead, he goes for the 3m Novices’ Chase (12:50). We’re keen to get a bit more experience into him and the aim of Sunday is to see whether he gets the three miles.

If he does, then it will open up a lot more options for the season. He’s got to give weight away all round but he’s in really good form and we have every confidence that he can stay the trip.

He’d definitely be our strongest chance of the weekend.

Winston C makes his debut over obstacles in the novices hurdle (13:20) having had a couple of runs on the Flat for us.

This is just a starting point and it’s all about experience. He’s been taking his hurdles well at home so hopefully he can run well.

Eleanorofaquitaine has finished runner up on three occasions and is now pitched into the Listed mares’ hurdle (15:00).

There aren't too many mares bumper options at the moment so we thought we’d try our luck here.

The form of her last race looks quite strong and, although we are putting her in at the deep end, we’d be delighted if she could put a fourth second to her name and get some valuable black type.

Toodlepip also lines up and is somewhat being thrown straight into the lions’ den. She goes very nicely at home and has shown us enough to warrant taking her chance at this level.

Next trip for If The Cap Fits

We’ve given If The Cap Fits the option of the Long Walk over three miles as it was an early closing race for entries.

He’s come out of Ascot really well and we just want to keep our options open at the moment, with a run over three miles one of the live possibilities.

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