Thursday 5th October 2017

I visited the yard of Alastair Ralph this morning, Alastair is based on the Shropshire / Worcestershire border.

Trigger Nichol is in pre-training with Alastair and his team. Once Trigger Nichol reaches a certain level of fitness he’ll make the move to Dr Newland’s. Most of our horses in training with Dr Newland start off with Alastair. The horses always come back looking very well and in a good place.

Alastair is doing very well as a trainer, 6 winners and 6 placed from just 23 runners this season. A 26% strike rate with 14 horses in training under rules.

Some good racing today, Sceau Royal makes his chase debut in the 3:20 at Warwick. A 154-rated hurdler, Sceau Royal has the class to make into a classy chaser if taking to the game.

News broke this morning One For Arthur is out for the season. This year’s Gran National winner who I started tipping in January and won a good few quid on has a leg injury. It’s a huge blow for Lucinda Russell, I really believed he could have won it again next year. Fingers crossed One For Arthur comes back in 2019.