Wednesday 3rd February 2016

I could have kicked myself for letting Yanworth go un-backed on Saturday, I’ve backed him on his last three starts but wasn’t sure the horse wanted two miles four especially on such bad ground. I couldn’t have got it more wrong though, Yanworth made mincemeat of his rivals and bolted up without coming off the bridle. The Neptune looks his race for the taking at the Cheltenham Festival whilst the handicapper has given him a rating of 158.

It was a tremendous day for trainer Alan King, a treble on the card, as I watched Smad Place win very easily I knew my Ryanair antepost bet on the horse at 10-1 was going down the pan. I thought Smad Place was a cert to be placed in the Ryanair and likely would have won but he’s now Gold Cup bound. I’m sure he will run his race in the Gold Cup but I doubt he’ll win it, Smad Place has been beaten in his last 5 Grade 1 races and it’s hard to see him bouncing back in the most competitive one of them all.

I’m heading off to Newmarket later today for the February Sale that kicks off tomorrow. We’ve been on the hunt for a flat horse for sometime but have either been outbid at previous sales or the horses we liked on paper weren’t so great close up. I’m meeting trainer Chris Wall, and we’ll check out the horses on our shortlist that we’ve put together in the past three weeks.

Touch wood we can secure a smart flat runner this time, shares will be available.