1000 Guineas and this week's runners and entries

1000 Guineas

I'd like to thank everyone who sent me messages of support and 'good luck' for Max One Two Three's run in the 1000 Guineas yesterday. It was a huge thrill to have a classic runner in only my third season and although it was naturally disappointing not to have been in the prize money it was a fantastic experience from which lessons have been learned. We could not have had better publicity and I am very grateful for the coverage that I and the ONEWAY team received. None of this would have been possible without the support of some fantastic owners and, in the case of Max, from Bert Black and his family and friends. Thank you.

Runners and entries w/c 5 May 2008

Gross Prophet runs this afternoon at 3.45 pm at Warwick.

On Thursday I have entered Savile's Delight at Goodwood at 3.00 pm and both Clifton Dancer and Zaskar at 4.10 pm.

Saturday could be a busy day. At Lingfield I have entered Max One Two Three in a Group 3 for fillies and mares over 7 furlongs (3.40 pm) and both Desert Dreamer and Savile's Delight in a ladies amateur rider's race at 5.15 pm. I have also entered Old Father Zieten at Haydock in a 6 furlong maiden at 3.45 pm and Prince Desire in a 6 furlong handicap at 4.20 pm. Wing Home is entered in a maiden at Warwick at 6.25 pm.

Desert Dreamer is our tenth winner

Our good friend Desert Dreamer won easily at Kempton on Wednesday to make it 10 winners from 23 runners so far in 2008.

He runs again tomorrow at Lingfield under a 6lb penalty in a much better race, a class 3 handicap worth £10,000. He seems to have come out of the race on Wednesday OK so I thought he deserved to be given a chance.

Firth of Fifth will be our first 2yo runner of the year on the same card and he is one of the few in the race not to have had a previous run. It is always an anxious time running the first 2yo and I remember how disappointed I felt last year after my first 2yo runner came in way down the field but in time they came good. I am particularly pleased that tomorrow Firth of Fifth runs in the race as the race is run in memory of the parents of Firth of Fifth's owner Dan Perchard.

Runners, declarations and entries w/c 30 March 2008

Desert Dreamer was our ninth winner of the year at Lingfield on Friday.

Tomorrow, Sunday, Hope Road runs in the maiden juvenile hurdle at Kempton at 2.00 pm. There are only eight runners and Timmy Murphy rides.

On Tuesday 1 April Naughty Thoughts is entered in a mile and a half race at Folkestone.

On Wednesday Rowan River is entered at Nottingham at 4.10 pm. and Desert Dreamer is entered in another claimer at Kempton Park at 6.50 pm.

Classic Blade is entered on Thursday at Leicester at 2.10pm. Hopefully he will be our first 2yo runner of the season.

Runners, declarations and entries W/C 6 March 2008

A mixed week so far with Desert Dreamer winning on Monday and Savile's Delight being beaten a nose (about two inches!) on Tuesday. Savile's Delight was in front half a stride from the line and again half a stride after but sadly not where it counts. Richard Kingscote gave both horses great rides.

Naughty Thoughts has been declared for Saturday at Wolverhampton in the 7.30 pm. It is an Apprentice Handicap and Ross Atkinson rides. The race is restricted to apprentices who have won less than five races and Ross won his fifth race yesterday. Timing is everything! He is only 16 years old and is apprenticed to Gary Moore and already has earned a reputation for the way he rides.

Our hopes next week are pinned on Hope Road.

It does not look terribly hopeful though. On Monday he is entered in two races at Stratford, the 2.10 a juvenile hurdle and 4.40 a handicap hurdle. In both he has ballot marks requiring 16 horses to come out of the first and eight out of the second. It is even worse on Tuesday, the first day of the Festival. He is entered in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle at 5.20 but requires 23 horses above him in the list to come out before he gets a run. As they used to say 'There's Bob Hope and No Hope' and we have the latter. If he doesn't get a run either day I will just have to find something else for him.

Winner number seven (from only 13 runners)

Desert Dreamer gave us a dream start to March by winning his first race for us since we bought him out of a claimer in February. The Racing Post reports as follows:

The feature race on an otherwise quiet card, but a steady gallop made life difficult for those held up towards the back, most notably Count Ceprano who ran an excellent race in the circumstances.
Richard Kingscote seemed very aware tactically on DESERT DREAMER, who sat close to the pace up the inside, and when the leaders tended to swing mid-track turning for home he was gifted an opportunity to scoot up the inside and get first run on the closers from behind, which proved crucial.
This was Desert Dreamer's first start for trainer Tom Dascombe who decided to take away the cheek-pieces and put on the tongue-strap. Seven furlongs around here are his optimum conditions and he is pretty reliable when in the groove, but things did pan out ideally for him here.

Declarations and entries w/c 3 March 2008

Desert Dreamer runs today at Lingfield at 3.40 in a class 5 handicap over 7 furlongs and Richard Kingscote rides. We claimed the horse the last time he ran at Lingfield when he was a close second over the same distance.

Tomorrow Savile's Delight runs at Southwell at 2.10 in a class 5 handicap over 5 furlongs and Richard will be in the plate.

On Saturday Naughty Thoughts is entered at Wolverhampton's evening meeting at 7.10 in an apprentice handicap over 1 mile and an extended furlong. You will recall that the horse was entered last week but was not declared as her handicap rating did not go up after her win in the seller and she would have had to run under a 6lb penalty.

Run For Sarah

Thanks to those of you who asked for sponsorship forms. I still have some left if you need them.

Lambourn Open Day

Remember to put Good Friday, 21 March in your diaries.

Sam Paton

Sam joins us today as our new Racing Secretary. She will be working mornings only from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm.