Ashkazar Bids To Follow-Up

It is another afternooon of top class racing with the second day of Cheltenham's April meeting taking place, while on the flat it is day two at flat racing's HQ, Newmarket.  There are also flat meetings at Ripon and Wolverhampton.  The stable has a couple of runners at Cheltenham, Close House and Ashkazar.  The latter has always been a high class individual and while he has been a little disappointing of late, he did pop-up around here in this race 12 months ago (pictured above) and is only 1lb higher today so you can't write him off just yet.

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I was delighted to see Sir Henry Cecil with another live Classic contender after his Hot Snap won the fillies' Group 3 at Newmarket yesterday afternoon from favourite Sky Lantern.  She still looked very green and can only improve for the experience, while the step up in trip should also be in her favour.

Also on the flat, it was good to see the remarkable Australian sprinter Black Caviar retire unbeaten after twenty-five starts.  She was odds-on favourite for 24 of those starts, fifteen of which were Group One races.  I wonder who they will send her to stud with first?  A meeting with Frankel is on the cards sometime in the future and that will really be something to look forward to - it doesn't always follow that just because you have the best pedigree, you are going to produce the best racehorses, but it is some place to start isn't it?!

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I see that Emma Berry says 'there are moments of magic in the sales ring that can be every bit as captivating as racecourse action' - personally I think that Emma needs to get out a little bit more!

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My beloved Hammers were robbed of victory last night as Robin van Persie scored an off-side equaliser for Manchester United to force a 2-2 draw at Upton Park.  To me Wayne Rooney's days at Old Trafford look to be numbered - he doesn't appear to be the player he once was - a comment that could also apply to three or four players at United at present, that should upset Tony and Eddie!