Monday 27th April

Newcastle
2.50 Touchdown 1.5pts win - N/R
4.20 Thebes 1pt win - 3rd

Plumpton
4.00 Spanchil Hill 1.5pts win - 6th

Southwell
7.10 If You Knew Suzy 0.5pt win - 4th

A loss shown for the first time in nine days. Touchdown is a well handicapped horse, I was fairly confident he'd win the 2.50 so was disappointed when I heard he was a non-runner. He hasn't made it to the course that often, has obviously been hard to train and perhaps connections didn't want to risk him on the 'firm in places' ground.

I persisted with Thebes in the sprint at 4.20 as I believe he is a well handicapped horse. He travelled by far the best throughout and looked the winner when Royston Ffrench moved him out to challenge. For me he didn't want to go by, his challenged petered out as soon as he was in a challenging position and he even lost 2nd place near the line. I strongly feel the horse would benefit for the application of headgear, something I touched on earlier in this blog after Thebes' run at Kempton. That, or a return to front running tactics will see this horse score of his current mark.

Spanchil Hill was disappointing when looking to have an obvious chance in the selling handicap hurdle at Plumpton. Perhaps too much use was made of him, although it could be he is a better horse over fences.

If You Knew Suzy ran no race at Southwell but Pipers Piping took the eye in the following race, travelling well and looking all over the winner until the last half furlong. Jamie Osborne's 3yo appears versatile with regards to surfaces so will give connections plenty of options in the near future.

At Windsor, Plaisterer showed enough to suggest there are races to be won with her. She did well to get into contention after being shuffled to the rear early in the race. She swished her tail inside the last though and obviously isn't totally straightforward. Cyborg showed promise in bumpers and maidens last year and he also ran well in 4th, he should find a similar race.

In the following race Onceaponatime did well to finish 3rd considering he raced wide throughout with little cover and would've prefered the rain to stay away. He wasn't knocked about either, he could be about to strike now the handicapper has cut him some slack, although I don't think he is the toughest in a finish.