I think this year’s entry in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket is the strongest we have ever had – I just hope we can beat the jinx.
I think most people are aware that the ante post favourite has never won the won competition so we are hoping that Patchys Kerry can be the first.
I watched her race last week on my phone and I have watched the a re-run several times and thought she was awfully impressive. She is 17/18 weeks out of season now and should have come on since the final of the Coronation Stakes.
But we are far from a one-runner team. Aayamzamodel ran really well to win her trialstake, Black Francis finished fourth last year and could easily make the final again and Ferryforth Fran, who I had doubts could run the track, went so well in his trial.
Racing teaches us not to be over-confident but I will be gutted if we don’t have a significant say in the race this year.
I watched the Golden Jacket heats while I was away for the weekend in Ireland.
It was a quick trip over and I didn’t stay for Sunday but the atmosphere at the Minella Hotel is always great and it gave me a chance to see Ian Greaves while I was over there.
I think this place takes some running; it doesn’t compare to an operation like Ian’s, but it runs like clockwork.
We bought a few unraced pups while we were over and I will be looking for new owners for them.
You never quite know what you will get when you buy them so young, but the method hasn’t done us any harm so far.
Domino Storm came from Ian and she had her first trial back this week in preparation for the Chelsea Glass Trainers Championship at Sittingbourne.
She has surprised me several times in her career but her trial on Tuesday was just phenomenal, 28.87 on going rated .20 slow beating Roswell Iceman by two length.
I would have been thrilled with his trial on its own but for her to beat him two lengths was staggering.
I have made my mind up about my team for the big night and they will all be trialling next Tuesday.
Both of them will be in it, along with Ballymac Shirley, Clondoty Alex, possibly at least on of the Golden Jacket entries and Billys Bullet of course.
He has come back brilliantly and is a great testament to all the hard work that has gone into his convalescence.
At this stage, I think he is probably two to three lengths off his absolute best, but he is a little overweight and can still improve.
Whatever happens, we take each race as a blessing.
Although the formation of the team will be there for all to see, I will keep the placing of the runners into the respective divisions to myself for the time being.
