It was great to get a winner on the board down at Brighton on Wednesday evening for David Simcock. Thomas Lanfiere got his head up just in time to land the spoils and he should have plenty more to offer this season, so long as he doesn’t rise too high up the handicap ratings.
There will be a social media boycott from myself and the rest of the horseracing community who are joining together with other sports this weekend to highlight the issue of social media abuse and racism suffered by sporting participants that continues to go unaddressed. It is a landmark weekend for horse racing with the first two British Classics of the season taking place at Newmarket so this boycott speaks volumes and is an important step which I hope will make people sit up and notice that more needs to be done to combat the abuse online. It’s great to see that MansionBet will also be joining in with this boycott this weekend.
Meanwhile, on the track, I am at Chepstow on Friday and up at Doncaster on Saturday evening.
Chepstow Racing Preview
Friday: Chepstow 2:20pm – ARTHALOT
ARTHALOT 16/1 has had some time off since his run at Bath where I rode him to finish down the field for Paul George. He ran his best race of his career over this course and distance so hopefully he should be seen in better light after being freshened up by Paul but he’s still a maiden and needs to show more than what he has to date to get his head in front.
Friday: Chepstow 4:00pm – MAJOR VALENTINE
MAJOR VALENTINE (11/4) finally got his head back in front under Hollie Doyle at Windsor last week after quite a long losing sequence, which had meant his handicap mark plummeted. He is more than capable of winning again off this mark and could easily defy the penalty he’s running with for winning last week.
Friday: Chepstow 5:05pm – SHERWOOD FORRESTER
SHERWOOD FORRESTER (14/1) is similar to Arthalot. He is coming off a similar absence for Paul George. His last two runs have been promising efforts with his run over 1 mile when I rode him the best of the two. I think that is his best trip and I hope he can be competitive in a race like this off a mark of 53.
Doncaster Racing Preview
Saturday: Doncaster 5:00pm – VIA SERENDIPITY
VIA SERENDIPITY is an old favourite of mine. He is a grand old horse. He has been in excellent form at home. Charlie has put a first time visor on him and it’s really brought him to life at home. This is somewhat of a fact finding mission in that we’re trying him over six furlongs for the first time in his career but the speed he’s shown at home means I think it could really suit him. He’s in great form and if taking to this new trip and visor, could have a good chance.
Saturday: Doncaster 5:35pm – CASSIEL
CASSIEL is a two year-old colt by Dark Angel who makes his first start for Charlie Fellowes. Charlie has been in great form but his two year-olds normally improve for the first run so this is very much his first day at school. He’s shown a good level of ability at home though and there’s only one with experience in the field.
Saturday: Doncaster 6:05pm – WILLYORWON’T HE
WILLYORWON’T HE appears here off a very light weight. He is rated 17lbs below Aerion Power which is a fair gap in only a five runner race! I’ve galloped with him at home and he’s in good form but this is a tough ask, despite the receiving of plenty of weight!
Saturday: Doncaster 7:10pm – THE FIRST HURRAH
THE FIRST HURRAH is a tiny filly who didn’t quite build on the promise she showed on debut. This is her first start on turf and I think the trip and ground will really suit her. It looks a decent novice race with Henry Candy’s colt the one to beat.
Stay safe,
Hayley!
MansionBet will be joining the FA, Premier League and EFL, amongst a number of football’s largest organisations in the planned social media boycott this weekend in a show of solidarity against racism and online abuse.