Decent week for me, though not without some disapointment, that I have just caught up on. The Wraith was the highlight in the Hennesey laid down her Gold Cup credentials with a great run.

Not sure what this week will bring, chucked the entries in whilst crusing down the river with next to no signal................

Best run some races now.

Where have u been !

Finally get to catch up. Quite a good week but frustrating as well. Got my first nh win of the season courtesy of an old gamebred stalwart, Vanguard Dream, who won his 3rd 2m5f chase at Cheltenham. I think I now know what his optimum course and distance is!
The frustrating side was 5 seconds and quite few others in the money, a case of so near....
Congrats to all winners.
Darren

Little escape with the missus up to the Norfolk Broads. Which coincidentally happens to be very good pike and feeder fishing waters not that I got much done.

Not the best of opening days for me, Tobeor Nottobe was good for his win but the rest was bad luck, bad entries, crappy racekit woe, plain disappointment and a smidgen of downright not good enough.

It was a good win and an exciting win. Marty's horse was unlucky.

Mine got a dream run for the first time this season, just beaten by a better horse. Congrats PJ

No winners at all on day one but some pleasing runs on the flat all the same. Laughing Wolf doesn't look like he will make the grade for the St Leger but he is a monster stayer at 4 so will be back next season. Hopefully will get into the Cesarewich or Melbourne Cup with a decent weight in the next few weeks. Phoenix Rising is an enigma, 2nd in one of those hot maidens in week 1, out with the washing every week since in some pretty low grade races too. This week got thrown into Group 1 Juddmonte International as no other race for him and comes through like a train for 4th and £37,500 prize money. Marching Powder just got caught on the line but ran well for 2nd. Russian Foxbat up in class after last weeks win didn't work, back down in grade seems best. Purple Records ran well in 6th and needs further.

As for the NH, well I appear to be pretty useless here. Still just the two wins all season and my main hopes have been a real let down. Melancholy Way easily my best 'in game' chaser failed to complete again as did Tamara Champlin. Not looking good for Cheltenham for me next week.

Blank day, though I had low expectations from the card and a series of poorly considered entries.

Well - I had my best result for 3 seasons in the hunt today with a 2nd lol and if it didn't bungle a couple of jumps.....one badly, it would have won - but I'll take the second!
Martin did well in the hunt and congrats on another winner and unlucky not to have had a double!
Bad luck to Sirius Chill with his horse being DQ'ed - a rattler of a finish....sadly there was interference there....not sure it was enough to change the result though.

Oh and a good win to Dirty Prawn - Wikus van de Merwe would have been proud

Nothing Monday, but a couple of winners yesterday, with "King Desire" picking up a good hurdle win and will go to the Coral Cup at Cheltenham next week.

"Dirty Prawn" come home nicely for a small handicap, as most of my sprinters are hold-up horses, they need small fields but he picks up wins at 3 & 4yo so glad he came back.

The rest so far in the hunt have kept their ratings down, which of course was the plan to raid the Chelts handicaps next week, like most people the stable gets trialed at Cheltenham so hopeful. "GreyemKay" goes to defend the Kim Muir Handicap from last year & will be well in.


Thanks Doug, small fields and he's a monster, my fave horse. (Have you seen Sharlto in the movie "Free Fire" mad as a hatter film)

Martin, the field sizes on the flat have been an issue since SO1 in the league, always thought it would be good to see the draw before running as I would pull 75% of my runners. With or without a bend unless you have a front runner who's drawn wide, you haven't got a hope most of the time, not sure there is an answer to this, divisions of handicaps ?? but the team including yourself already have enough to do each week, let alone increase the amount of races per week to try and combat.

Fingers crossed improved Jockey AI in S07 may help.

Thanks to all who take part, the team, trainers and horses

I think divisions need to be looked at in the future. From a race calling point of view - an extra flat race or two to call is no drama for me.
Not sure what field size number you would use to install an extra heat - 18????
But this could well become an issue if the league keeps growing.

3 seconds this week and one devastating DQ. Hawk The Slayer showed that powerful late kick of his to just get up for the win - only to be taken down.

It reminded me of what to ask Mark for in the next game - Fix the DQ dynamic so that when you are disqualified you are placed behind the horse you interfered with and not dead last. I've always hated that the game does that. Congrats to Colin Clarke on the gift win I gave him.