Return to Stratford (and Yarmouth)

Frankie couldn't quite manage to join the elite band of horses still unbeaten after two bumpers when he paid his second visit to Stratford on Tuesday, but he did very well even so. He finished third, beaten about four and a half lengths. This wasn't a bad effort, as the very slow pace would have favoured horses who have speed in excess of stamina (and he very much has stamina in excess of speed) and also he was wide throughout, which was another unfortunate consequence of the lack of pace in the race: Jack had jumped off with two horses inside him and, while in a normal race he would have been able to slot in wherever he liked at some point in the first quarter of the race, the fact that the slow pace ensured that the field was tightly packed until the final 600m meant that he was wide throughout. Even so, the fact that he was carrying a 7lb penalty and was beaten by fewer lengths could suggest that on the book he was the best horse in the race - but anyone who has watched the race would, I am sure, agree that the winner Tahrir Square holds that honour undisputed. Granted better luck in running, I can say that we would have finished a good second behind this horse - and I am very happy to say that because my prediction is that Tahrir Square has a very good future ahead of him. He was trained in Ireland by Claire MacMahon on (and before) Saturday but I would not be surprised if he's already in one of the leading British stables. The bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy appeared to be inspecting him closely beforehand and then he arrived in the stables afterwards looking for the trainer, so it's not hard to imagine that a high-priced deal might have been agreed shortly afterwards, possibly to see him racing in the Menorah/Captain Chris/Wishful Thinking colours of Diana Whately. I'd like to see that because she has a lovely team of horses whom I always enjoy watching, and he'd fit nicely into that group. Anyway, that's just conjecture, but I'll certainly follow his career with interest.

More immediately, I'll head off to Yarmouth, where Batgirl runs in the 3.40. There's plenty more to discuss from our trip to Stratford and from all the other little things which crop up on a day-to-day basis, but time waits for no man, so I had better get myself ready for departure. Any trip to Yarmouth is always enjoyable and many of the local friendly faces, both human and equine, will be there to enliven the afternoon.