GAVIN CROMWELL: A busy weekend lies ahead for Gavin and his yard, and he previews each of his runners below.
We are really looking forward to taking a few runners to Downpatrick this weekend with racing both days, then it’s on to Royal Ascot with Quick Suzy.
Quick Suzy
Preparations have gone well for her tilt at the Queen Mary next week at Royal Ascot. She did her last piece of work on Friday morning and we’re happy with her. Hopefully, all things go well between now and then and it’s all systems go. The ground is obviously drying out all the time but that shouldn’t be a problem for her.
Downpatrick Saturday
We have got two set to run in the Beginners Chase (3.50pm), Wavelength and Walk me Home. Wavelength unseated his rider early on the last day which was very disappointing, and he is still yet to show the promise that he did when winning his bumper two-years ago. We thought he would have kicked on a little by now but we’re hoping he can get a clear round in this and then we will take it from there.
It will be Walk Me Home’s first start over fences and she looks to be well treated with her mares’ allowance, so we’ll be hopeful of a big run from her. She’s a nicely bred mare by Galileo and is a half-sister to Spades Are Trumps and Ilikedwayurthinkin, who we’ve also got in the yard. She’s been schooling a bit at home and we’re hopeful she’ll take to the fences.
Oscar Thyne steps up in trip to just short of three miles in the handicap chase (4.25pm). He ran well the last day over hurdles at Ballinrobe so we’re back over fences with this but it’s a relatively small field and we’re hopeful that he can run a big race. Of my six running over the course of the weekend, he’s probably got the strongest claims.
Downpatrick Sunday
Silvertown gets us underway on the Sunday, going in the maiden hurdle (1.50pm). He was second the last day in a handicap and he’s only a four-year-old, so we’ve decided to put him back in a maiden hurdle. He has a bit of course form and steps up in trip a little bit as it was probably a bit on the sharp side for him the last day. Fingers crossed that he can be the one to beat. The ground shouldn’t be an issue for him whatever happens, but if anything, he’d probably rather a bit of ease in it.
Mystery Mac lines up in the other maiden hurdle (2.20pm). On what we’ve seen so far this is going to be a tough ask and he may be one to watch in handicaps a little later down the line.
Aprils Joy goes in the mares’ handicap hurdle (2.50pm), after a good run on the Flat at Cork after a break and she’s in good form. The trip might be a bit on the sharp side for her, but she’s fit from her spin on the Flat and hopefully she will be there or there abouts.
Boomtown Girl goes back in trip for the handicap hurdle (4.50pm), and although she’s carrying top weight, you’d be quietly confident she can pick up a place and bring some prize money back.
