HELM BANK
17/06/2005
At the beginning of Ascot I thought we had two very good chances in LEAGUE CHAMPION and TARFAH. Now we are relying on HELM BANK in the Wolferton Stakes and RINGSIDER on Saturday in The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. Whilst I feel League Champion ran well he is crying out to be stepped up in trip and I firmly believe he has a lot of potential. We will sit tight and wait to see what opportunities come up for him over the next month or so.
I was disappointed with Tarfah. She had been working extremely well prior to the Windsor Forest Stakes. I thought the ground went against her and I feel she was not as good as she could have been on the day. We will sit back, discuss plans with her owner and possibly aim for something at Glorious Goodwood. She is also entered in the Beverley Dee Stakes at Arlington in the middle of August.
Looking ahead to runners over the next week onwards, we have a nice 2 year old called WEST OF AMARILLO running Friday night at Newmarket. He has been working quite well at home. I am sure he will give a good account of himself but it is his debut so we wont be applying too much pressure on him.
As I said, Ringsider runs at Royal Ascot at York on Saturday. It is quite a tough assignment for him but I hope he gives a good account of himself.
NUWARA ELIYA holds court at Newmarket on Saturday in a mile maiden. I was very pleased with his first run, he has been training very nicely over the last few weeks and I think he will go very close.
Looking at the week ahead, we have entries at Windsor for MUZDAHERHA, HAIBAN, GALLANTIAN and SCOTTISH PLAY. The handicapper has taken a swipe at Muzdaherha putting her up 5lb for her 2nd place at Sandown. Haiban has an entry in the 1m3f handicap but is also entered in a maiden at Bath on Wednesday.
Gallantian is on his way home to Ireland in search of soft ground. He holds 3 entries at The Curragh next weekend and we will decided later in the week which race to go for.
Looking even further ahead, Nayyir and Compton Bolter will hopefully run at Newmarket next weekend. I decided to give Nayyir a bit more time to come to himself but we are very pleased with the way he has been progressing over the last few weeks.
Compton Bolter will be entered in a mile and a half Listed race and he is showing himself to be in very good form and I am sure he will give his customary solid performance.
