Thursday 21st August 2014 - Update

Kingston Hill who I strongly fancied for The Great Voltigeur Stakes yesterday was pulled out just 25 minutes before the race due to the quick ground, connections inform the horse will now go for the St Leger.

Australia confirmed he’s a colt out of the top draw with an emphatic win in the Juddmonte International Stakes, according to his trainer Aiden O’Brien he’ll improve again for the run, it’s difficult to think of a horse that might be able to beat him.

On to today, Fort Bastion 3:05 York was selected last night at 14-1 EW, I hope it’s only a matter of time before he lands one of these big handicaps.

I’ve put the horse up on the last two occasions at 50-1 & 16-1 and we’ve been really unlucky not to collect, especially last time out in the Betfred mile. Fort Bastion was beaten just over a length into 6^th place in a 17 runner race, however if the gaps appeared at the right time he would have been placed at worst and likely won.

The handicapper put him up a 1lb for that effort something trainer Ruth Carr couldn’t have been happy about after finishing 6^th.

Today’s Clipper stakes is another highly competitive race that will take a lot of winning and luck in running, however I hope its 3^rd time lucky for Fort Bastion on a course he holds previous good form at and plays to his strengths.

I would like to see jockey James Sullivan position him a bit more handy than usual as it will not be easy to make ground up on today’s quick surface. Were drawn in stall 13 so that gives the option to go either side, hopefully we’ll end up where the pace is.

This race is close to the same level the selection has found trouble in running on the last two occasions, if a clear path can be sought fingers crossed Fort Bastion can give us a big run for our money at a nice price.

At Newton Abbot this evening “8:00” if Upsanddowns is fully wound up after ten months off the track he should take a bit of beating based on his very good Irish form, current price 2-1.