20th February 2012

Sandown on Friday was the Royal Artillery Gold Cup day, which has always been one of my favorite days racing, probably due to the fact that I was lucky enough to win the race 4 times during my riding career. We didn't have any runners in the race this season, but we ran Graduation Night ran in the 3 mile handicap and Caminero made his racecourse debut in the 2 mile novice hurdle.

Graduation Night put his Doncaster disappointment behind him and ran a cracker to finish 4th beaten 10 lengths. He made a couple of early mistakes by being a bit over bold in his first time visor, and was outpaced when they started to quicken up over the railway fences, only to stay on dourly up the Sandown hill. He certainly looks to want a step up in trip now, and we'll have to consider running him in the National Hunt 4 mile chase at Cheltenham.

Caminero ran a smashing race to finish 3rd beaten only 2 lengths. Tom O'Brien was full of praise for this very promising 5 year old, who is only going to improve with a step up in trip,fences, and a good summer at grass. How exciting....

Marodima ran well to finish 4th at Wincanton on Saturday. A combination of a rise in the handicap following his 2 wins last month, and 2m5 stretching his stamina meant he couldn't last home out in front. He is in at Sandown on Friday, but he is tricky to place now, and we might drop him into a claimer.