Champions Day Countdown

There is one jumps meeting this afternoon at Market Rasen while the flat racing comes from Lingfield, Leicester and Newcastle.  In Ireland, there is a jumps fixture at Punchestown and a flat card at Dundalk.  The stable does not have any runners today.  I did think however it was interesting to see that Richard Hughes has a couple of runners at Market Rasen, one over hurdles and one in the bumper.  While the hurdle runner has a bit to find on hurdling debut with the principals in the race, I like the chances of his bumper horse, Cracks Speed.  He is by the sire Cracksman who I like and carries some quite famous flat silks.  He is the current favourite but is on the drift so make of it what you will!  I imagine connections thought he was too slow to run on the flat which is why he as ended up here but I shall watch with interest with Brendan Powell in the saddle.  

The countdown is on for Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday and the races are starting to take shape after a confirmations and supplementary entry stage yesterday.  Ombudsman, Delacroix and Calandagan have all be confirmed for the Champion Stakes on at day that has five Group 1 races.  Godolphin supplemented Devil's Advocate at a cost of £75,000 into this race, essentially to be a pace maker for Ombudsman!  The Andre Fabre trained First Look was also supplemented for this race.  There are now 15 possibilities for this race before the declaration stage with Ombudsman the early favourite at 7-4, Delacroix is 5-2 and Calandagan is 7-2.  Behind the scenes, a nice touch from Ascot racecourse is to invite all stable staff in the country to attend the day for free with tickets for the racing and entertainment afterwards.  I thought this is a great idea, I would have loved to have gone, unfortunately I can't and it is not easy for any of our staff to go on a busy Saturday both at home and with jumps racing taking place but it is a nice idea.  I contacted the racecourse to say thank you for the invite but politely decline and their response was to invite us all to another day out at Ascot so you can't say fairer than that!  Hopefully, we might be able to take them up on the offer one day.

The sales at Newmarket continue this week with Book 2 of yearlings, while prices remain high they are not quite as high as last week!  Crazy really but the top price yesterday was 525,000 guineas and that lot went the way of Amo racing.  Three teenager with the combined age of 46 also left the sales complex very happy yesterday as their Minzaal filly sold for 450,000 guineas.  She was originally bought for 80,000 guineas as a foal so not a bad effort from the boys but like with everything in life you need a bit of luck.  Relatives in this fillies pedigree have run very well this summer which of course makes her more attractive to buyers.  

Next Tuesday, there is a sale at Doncaster which includes the dispersal of several of owner Roger Brookhouse's horses.  While there will be some big money lots, hopefully for buyers they won't be as high as what we are seeing at Newmarket!

Last night in the World Cup qualifiers Northern Ireland lost at home to Germany 1-0 while Wales lost against Belgium 4-2.  The defeat for Wales means their automatic qualifying chances are over but they can still reach the finals by the play-offs, like they did in 2022.  England play tonight away to Latvia at 7.45pm while the Republic of Ireland are also in action at home to Armenia.     

When you buy a bigger bed, you get more bed room but less bedroom!

Have a good day!