The highlight yesterday was a nice win for Charlie Uberalles at Doncaster who backed up the very positive impression he'd made at the same course in the Spring, he may be one to follow in future Doncaster runs and possibly at somewhere like Ayr and Newcastle in the spring, Courses with very similar configurations.

 

There is racing today in the UK at Carlisle where sadly numbers are pretty moderate which is a shame. 

 

There is also the first NH Fixture at the realigned Jumps Track at Windsor, the old figure of eight track was shall we say "entertaining" and those involved think that the new shape, where they go down a wider loop down the back straight will make for better racing. It's so new (it feels a bit rushed to me) that At The Races haven't even got a Course Guide for the new NH Track. It would be the height of folly quite frankly to tip at a Track we've not actually seen in full, so we will watch and learn.

 

I have to say that whilst any new or returning Track to NH is usually good news, Hereford as a shining example, but having repeatedly made the point about small fields in NH Races at Sandown and Kempton (literally a few miles apart) and at Ascot in the winter months, why reintroduce Windsor, which is clearly visible from Ascot. You are basically taking 3 tracks with generally pitiful numbers running in the winter, and adding another one to the mix. BARMY!. What further concerns me is the potential impact on excellent hard working less fashionable midweek Tracks like Fontwell and Plumpton, these tracks rely on the support of Southern based Trainers who will now possibly move horses to run more often at Windsor than at the Sussex based tracks. 

 

This leaves us with a cracking Navan Card, probably the best race track in Ireland and a true test of any horse. Michael will attack two competitive Handicaps and Sean a pair of interesting Chases and as always both have an eye on each way's big priced value.