Good Morning, Friend,

To Cheltenham...

Sorry I've been a bit quiet in recent days, a lot going on. 33 of us had a great time at Cheltenham yesterday cheering on our Kaleb, who ran a stormer in the 1.15. He struggled to go the early pace in that class/over that trip, but settled into a rhythm when they slowed it down. Sadly he got squeezed out down the back on the flat, stumbled a bit, slowed down and dropped to the back. We feared the worst but Jack got him going again and he stayed on really well up the hill, only a couple of lengths behind the leading pack come the line, beaten by less ground than he lost. Who knows, but had that not happened he may have been in the mix for 3rd or 4th. He's a great horse to have some fun with, we'll get his head in front and have some great days out along the way. He came back safe, which is the main thing. Thoughts with connections of Gesskille, who sadly didn't come home. It's a tough old game, heart wrenching at times.

Kaleb followed on the back of Coolree making his debut for us at Chelmsford on Thursday. He cruised around on the front end but took a big blow turning in and faded in the last furlong. Amy hadn't drilled him and a chance he needed it more than we anticipated, but we may have also got the trip wrong. 10f was an unknown, we wanted to see if it suited, but on that evidence a stiff/well run 8f may be ideal. We'll try that at Southwell or a Newcastle maybe. In time it may transpire he's just better on the turf but we'll have plenty of fun with him, great days out and he'll get his head in front at some point, hopefully on his next couple of starts.

I managed to find two winners from four picks yesterday, pulling in +15 points. In truth it's been a bit of a struggle since my mad week a few weeks back, but I had to fire in some losers after that. I wish I could win +85 points every week but sadly this game isn't that easy!

Onto today. I've got four fancies but will flag my main hope in the 1.50...

1.50 Chelt – Fugitif – 7/1-8/ – EW 1/5 4p

Fugitif – IF he runs his race here he wont be out the first 4, he just can’t be, can he? (poor sod) He deserves one of these pots, has a great course record, high class handicapper, tough, hardy, just has to go very well for me. He ran a stormer on return, a bit lit up in CP, but he cruised up turning in, splitting the front two inc Stage Star, before he got tired. He’s a big unit and I’d expect him to strip fitter. I think he could still be open to improvement this season as an 8YO, given his size, and he sets a solid standard for this CD and this sort of race. I do fear some of those with sexier profiles, hence the EW, but they do have to prove it in a big field, around here, at a solid tempo. This lad was unlucky not to win at The Festival for us, bumping into an Irish raider but stuffing the rest. Fingers crossed this is his time, and post race i’m regretting not going win only. But he just has to be bang there if running race/jumping. A chance he may have wanted it even softer, but he should still be ok. Of course something could be better handicapped, but I think his record in this sort of race will count for plenty.

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Good luck with any bets and enjoy your weekend,

Josh