The racing broadcaster is making wholesale changes to his stable of tracked horses with the rain bringing earlier returns of the winter brigade.
You can follow all the horses in Richard’s stable with the Racing TV Tracker.
Down to earth with a bump this week with three runners who never even went close to troubling the judge.
Larado (fourth at 7-1) was no great surprise. After his excellent run at a massive price, he probably should have been removed as, upped in class and unable to dominate, he was well held at Kempton. Newcastle would be a better spot next time, but he will just have to go down as one that got away.
Harry’s Hottie (pulled up at 100-30f) made an early error and was never involved at Hereford while Granny Hawkins (0 at 12-1) was well-beaten in a bumper at Warwick returning off an absence.
The performances of this pair made me realise it is time to weed out all that were added during the summer on the jumping front. The rain is bringing the returns of the winter brigade earlier this year and, as a result, the race depths have increased.
Therefore, as well as this trio, Forget You Not and Mairis Icon also come out.
NEW ADDITIONS
There are three additions this week, the first of which is LIBOR LAD, who finished second at Stratford last week. He travelled well and, prior to that run, had also run second in a race at Perth that has worked out particularly strongly. He has been put 4lb to 81 but that is still a basement mark and a return to 2m 4f would also be a plus.
Next up is I SEE YOU WELL, who for a long way looked like making it course win number seven at Plumpton on Monday. He eventually got worried out of things by an in-form hose in Blade Runner but that should put him spot-on for either a tilt at the 3m handicap at Sandown on the Friday of the Tingle Creek meeting or a race at Plumpton just before Christmas.
Finally, we have OUT OF OFFICE, who finished second to Colonel Harry in a three-runner novice chase at Chepstow. He jumped soundly and was not knocked about when headed. Hopefully he can reward the kindness with a victory or two in novice handicaps. It was encouraging to see him jump well given he had got no further than the first on his chasing debut under rules, though he had won a Point to Point in February 2022 after which he was purchased by current connections for £160,000.
Finally, Alan King has also kindly updated me on the progress of another of our horses in INSANITY, which will likely be a juvenile hurdle around the end of the month. Alan said he might have a steady campaign as he feels he can still strengthen up but confirmed all was fine and schooling has continued to go well.
Released: Larado, Harry’s Hottie, Granny Hawkins, Forget You Not, Mairis Icon
Added: Libor Lad, I See You Well, Out Of Office
You can see the latest stable as it stands in full here.
