Sandown Double

                      ***UPDATE***
Unfortunately, owing to an accident on the M5
  we are stuck in traffic and will be unable to
     make it to Sandown in time afternoon

The stable enjoyed another great day yesterday with a double courtesy of Gericault Roque and Sexy Lot at Sandown.  The pair were given lovely rides by conditional jockey Fergus Gillard who was also riding the first double of his young career.  Gericault Roque stayed on in fine style down the stands' side in the straight on this drop back to two miles, coming clear as he met the rising ground.  He is already smart but looks like the type who will continue to improve with time.  Whilst the galloping track was far more suitable than Fakenham last time, he looks like he will be even better going left-handed on a testing track.

Sexy Lot ran out a most impressive winner of the concluding 2m4f novices' handicap hurdle.  Racing in mid-division throughout, she took closer order 3 out and was soon in control in the straight, coming easily clear with Fergus Gillard having to ask any questions.  She loved this stiffer track and relished the conditions which were much more testing than anticipated.  She is a lovely mare who continues to progress rapidly.  She is sure to go up in the weights for this, so could possibly turn out again quickly under a penalty.

There are five meetings taking place this morning with jumps cards from Sandown, Hereford and Ayr, whilst there are all-weather flat cards from Wolverhampton and Chelmsford City.  David has three runners at Sandown today; Martinhal, Leoncavallo and Eamon An Cnoic.

Martinhal contests the ultra competitive 2m4f EBF handicap hurdle final at 1.50pm.  He has been in tremendous form this season, winning his last two starts, including beating favourite Karl Philippe at Exeter on his penultimate outing.  We are 3lbs worse off for 1/2 length, but our chap has a great attitude and shapes as though this longer trip could bring about further improvement.  It is a big ask to win such a competitive race under topweight, but he looks to have each-way claims.

We are doubly represented in the Imperial Cup at 2.25pm.  It is a race that David has won three times in the past and completed the Imperial Cup/Cheltenham Festival double with Gaspara in 2007.  Leoncavallo was last seen over obstacles, winning a chase at Stratford in good style in July but he was in good form on the level subsequently, winning at Haydock and finishing an excellent sixth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.  He is more exposed than most, but is a quality individual and looks to hold solid claims.

Our other runner is Eamon An Cnoic, who is another to have been in good form, winning over course and distance on his penultimate start before running second to an improving type at Chepstow last time.  He is 9lbs higher than when successful and this is a deeper race, but he could go well once again with Fergus Gillard taking 5lbs off his back.

With just a few days until the start of the Cheltenham Festival it is great to see the horses in such good form.  Let's hope that continues...

*****

I accidentally booked myself onto an escapology course; I’m really struggling to get out of it.