Good Morning, Friend,

Happy - 'we've had a winner' day! I wouldn't have coped with another 2nd, which would have been the 9th or 10th in our colours. Still, 60%+ of our runners have been in the top 4, consistent. But its winners that matter and having another one was enjoyable.

Yesterday was great fun at Uttoxeter, screaming home our Sir Canford as he registered his first hurdles success on just his third start for the excellent Dr Richard Newland- who picked him up for just £3k at a Horses In Training sale, not bad. As you can see above, he's looking very content with himself this morning, having bounced out of the race, and looking superb in his coat. It was my call to go for that race as opposed to Worcester today and to leave the headgear as it was, so I felt the pressure a little bit and thankfully it paid off.

He relished the step up in trip as expected, received an excellent ride from Sammy Twiston, and won it a shade cosily. There are a few more hurdles win him in, possibly over 3m in time also. There's probably a 1m6-2m flat handicap to be won with him again at some point as well. Happy days. A great fun horse for us all. You just can't beat the emotion of cheering home your horse over the line in front - the emotions are something else, especially when shared with new friends, made through this great game. We enjoyed the celebrations.

Why not join in the fun?

Our Summer Syndicate is initially for x6 months and we're nearly halfway through... if you'd like to join in for just x3 months - August/Sept/Oct, with no further commitment required, do email me! 2.5% costs just £89.99 per month all in and you'll get your share of prize money from here on in. Who knows, in 3 weeks time you could be on course cheering home a winner! :)

My picks did ok also, Sir Canford the stand out of course, but cheering home Judge Earle was great fun. He looked on good terms with himself pre-race and was paddock pick also, to my questionable eyes. There was never a moments doubt, just irritated I didn't 'nap' him for you but there we go, the two horses with the best 'write-ups' won, no shock there maybe.

Two honourable 2nds also and a nowhere... Sheila Lewis reported Junior Master to have maybe resented being taken on for the lead and in her opinion wanted faster ground (for all it was drying out), maybe one for next time back in a smaller field/on quicker ground. He's still improving, at his level.

Carlo Du Berlais, who cost £80k (blimey) and won the 4.40, picking up £2600 for his owners, did impress me. Only a 0-100 of course but he was under the pump a long way out but showed guts and tenacity. He jumped well under pressure and all he did was stay on, suggesting 3m2f or even 3m4f may be well within reach. A likeable type, and a winning attitude counts for plenty generally, but even more so at C4-5 level over jumps.

Onto today...

Three horses of interest from this evening's meetings...

7.00 Epsom - Little Boy Blue - 13/2 - EW - I thought that was generous enough. He was 15/2 but a 4s shot has just come out/R4, but maybe he'll drift back out. I thought he set a decent standard on his last two efforts, including a win at Chepstow from a subsequent winner. He gets Rose Dawe's useful 5lb today which may help, having run well at Epsom 15 days ago. It's quicker ground today which may see him bounce back, although not beaten far... my 'way in' was the pace map - I thought a chance he could blast out and make all/dictate from his low draw, which could help. Maybe younger legs will overhaul him but if running to his best, i'd be dissapointed were he out the 3. Course form can count for plenty here.

8.25 Worcester -

Ranco - he's being backed, maybe tipped somewhere and he'll drift back out, I thought 6/1 was fair, maybe even 11/2/5s but I wouldn't want shorter than that personally. This is his second run back after a wind-op and I thought he was worth a go back up in trip here. There's still a niggle that he doesn't quite stay but it doesn't look a strong race, he's older/more mature now, some headgear returns, and maybe his breathing is sorted. He's shaped over shorter as if worth another go over 2m4f. He's more interesting than many in here (although just 1/17 over hurdles, eek) and this mark looks workable.

Ulysees - 20/1 - worth beer money, maybe EW with x4 places... he's a character and like Ranco wouldn't want much rain here - they could get some this afternoon, the ground was Good/Good to Firm in places but they water plenty here - if any rain turns this much softer, both of these two could struggle, but then I'm not sure who else would enjoy that either.

This horse won over the CD a couple of years back at this time of year, off a slightly higher mark. He's out the handicap by a few pounds today but I don't think that matters. Before that win in July 2021, he ran over 3m here 2 weeks before, and was stuffed - as he was here on his last start, over 3m, at Worcester. I also noted both his career wins have come in July and August - 2/6,3p in handicap hurdles at this time of year, nothing in any other months. Maybe this is when he comes into himself, who knows. He's a bit of a rogue and has his own ideas, needs to settle, can lose his race beforehand, and needs a solid gallop. But, given the above, and his price, worth some change just to find out I think. He could tail off, he could grind out another win if on song. Here's hoping!

Interestingly Blazing Court is still in- he's the one who chased home Sir Canford yesterday. I'd expect him to be pulled out, but you never know. He's got some size about him and could be worth noting for when they go chasing with him.

We had Sir C entered in this race also, when it had 45 entries at 5 day stage and the race has since divided. This first division looks much weaker and I think he'd have won this also! But, I would say that. :) If Blazing Court does run 1 day on, I wouldn't mind if he franked the form, but may need a few days off.

Fingers crossed they all run well,

Have a great day.

And don't forget, if you'd like to dip into racehorse ownership, for just x3 months and see how we do things, and cheer Sir Canford to more victories, then hit reply to this email and let me know! :) We have a few shares available, a superb bunch of owners and you'd be a welcome member of the RTPS family.

All the best,

Josh