Good Afternoon,

RTP Syndicate - horse's running plans...

I hope you had a decent weekend! Adam managed to bang in 16/1 and 5/1 winners which added some cheer on the blog, sadly I wasn't that close to 50/1 shot Wishing And Hoping in the Vets race, some performance from him.

The Scoop6 Squad probably had their worst week for some time, for all as always the odd forecast/tricast and their shortlists did find a couple of winners, but not the NAP race, and like everyone else, they didn't win the main prize- but at least it rolls over to this weekend, where there could be £175k+ up for grabs.

Today I thought I'd share with you some running plans for our RTPS batallion, which you may find interesting and could be worth noting for the future.

First up, is KALEB...

He's been entered at Kempton this Saturday, in the final race, a 0-140 2m handicap hurdle. We've been deliberating options but given the softer ground, will keep him at 2 miles for now, for all we think he'll relish 2m4f at some point. But he's still a young horse and we don't want to over burden him at this stage. We did think about running him in The Challow the other week as it can cut up, but concluded that may bottom him out and he probably wouldn't have been good enough to place, not in those conditions anyway, with 14 rivals. We did also consider the 2m5f Grade 2 at Warwick this Saturday - a 55k pot, (vs 13k at Kempton!) however, that will likely be testing ground and you'll need a 3 miler in the making to win that, which Kaleb isn't. He's not bred to be a 3 mile slogger and has only just turned 5.

Thankfully his Haydock effort is starting to work out well. They were all beat by subsequent Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle winner Tahmuras that day, and Lucinda's Snake Roll, 1l ahead of us there, has since hacked up as he pleased up at Newcastle. Jack thought on another day he could have been second, so it's all a positive.

To Kempton - and there are only 9 horses entered at the 5 day stage, so it could cut up further. He will be there to try his best and to win if good enough. If he has the pace to keep tabs to after 2 out, he should be bang there come the line, as he will stay on. It will be good to get more hurdling experience into him. Because he's a novice, he must have at least x4 hurdle runs to his name before he's allowed to run in some of these big Class 1/2 handicaps, which I'm sure we'll pitch him into at some point. Who knows, maybe we can sneak him into a Festival handicap, or one at Aintree's Grand National Meeting. It's some game this! But he's a proper Saturday handicapper in the making we hope.

They'll be at least 15 of us track-side on Saturday and it promises to be another great day out with the gang.

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Second up is SHANDANCER -

My 10k purchase from an Irish field looks to be turning into another bargain buy having been transformed by Amy as expected. He's soon becoming a favourite - while not the biggest, he's all heart, tries his best and according to Jack is uncomplicated and wants to win - this will stand him in good stead and he will be winning plenty of races at his level (he works well at home against some solid animals also) - and at the moment, we don't know what level that will be!

I have shared last week's Syndicate update email with you, and you can read it on the blog HERE >>>

In it I discuss our two-race plan for Shan, provided he gets into one/both of the races concerned. He'll be trying his hardest in both and hopefully gives us plenty to cheer. His first win isn't far away, which is exciting. We will also be giving him a spin on the Flat/AW at some point also. He does have some Frankel blood in him, so you never know! (and his dad won on the level)

We have just x9 shares left in him, including lease shares, which makes it a bit cheaper/more flexible, and if you like the idea of being in the winner's enclosure in the next 3-6 weeks, drinking winners champagne and having lost your voice, you can find out more HERE >>>

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Finally - GOLDEN MAYFLOWER

Our first dip into the flat/AW, and a great opportunity for us. She's had some wind issues which Amy hopes are now sorted, and if so, my word we're going to have some fun with this daughter of a Derby winner. She should be out on course at some point this month, early Feb at the latest, starting off at Lingfield. She's a proven winner, unexposed, and now very well handicapped. Fun times ahead. Maybe we'll get her back to Royal Ascot again.

Whenever she makes her debut, she will be there to win, for all I personally think it may take her a run or two to mentally get back in the game now she knows she can breathe properly, but we shall see. Hopefully she bolts up on debut for us! That's the plan.

Again, we still have a few shares available in her, with Amy keeping 25% (which is usually a good sign). Just drop me a message if you'd like to find out more!

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I think that's the lot - well, I should say it isn't all roses of course. Jumps horses do like injuring themselves. As you know, we had to retire The Plumber a few months back now, but he's having a great time at his new home, last seen playing in the snow while his legs recover - he should make into a decent Eventer, all being well.

Our big lad, Give Me A Boom, is having some rest for a few months after a minor leg injury suffered in September at home on the gallops. His owners are being patient but thankfully their Year 1 fees will get them through to next December time, at which point he'll have been back in training for a few months and ready to run - and we'll know more. If we can keep him sound he's some staying chaser in the making.

Our other horse, the mare Proud Mari, (who joins Kaleb in Syndicate #1) is taking a while to come to hand this season but we hope to get her out before the season is out, and may even send her over to France at some point. Just a case of being patient with her - she's a star in the making and will be better than Kaleb we think, and he's turning into a decent horse himself. Many mares pots to be plundered with her, and who knows after that.

So, plenty happening on the Syndicate side of things, all the time adding new members to our 60 strong community. You should come and join us! :)

Thanks for reading, and have a great start to the week,

Josh

p.s you can read about Shandancer's running plans HERE >>>