Southfield Round and Hamilton Hill are the gallops of choice

It’s a very muggy morning with the temperature gradually rising as the day goes on. There is very little wind which is making it extremely uncomfortable to work in. I am hoping we can get a thunderstorm or two as that would clear the air. It looks set to continue like this for the rest of the week. The horses have been cantering on Southfields Round and Hamilton Hill and, with a few riders in, everything has gone well.

Our runner yesterday had every chance but his form, two wins and a second, has been on the all-weather and I think that surface is where we will be keeping him in future. A big strong horse he travelled well but when push came to shove very little happened. You could put it down to the ground, and maybe it was on the fast side, but I think back to the soft surface will suit. It was interesting to read Sir Mark Prescott’s comments in the Racing Post today. His horses have been running disappointingly in exactly the same manner as ours. He has run them with good bloods and good scopes and still they have run below par. Time looks like the only cure.

The July sales started yesterday with lots of overseas clients purchasing horses. The transport firms will be busy for the next fortnight getting them all sorted out. Our bloodstock is sought after by every racing nation and thank goodness it is. Visitors will have the added attraction of the July course today with the start of the three day festival. It is always a great meeting with plenty of competitive racing and there will some very good horses on show this week. We have got last year’s Derby winner trying to redeem his reputation today in the Princess Of Wales’s stakes at 3.35. He should strip fitter for his run last time.