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A Few Thoughts …

October 11th, 2019 | Marten's Current Racing Diary

Hi there

I was very taken with the attitude Thyme Hill displayed in his three runs last season, as much in defeat as in victory, and it was that tenacity that stood him in good stead on his hurdling debut in today’s Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow.

I had been keen to put him in my Premier List of the Dark Horses but the book isn’t out yet so he’ll be taken off the list as he’s now in the public domain.

At York I was impressed with the way Art Power won the 5f novice stakes. Tim Easterby’s grey son of Dark Angel relished the soft ground and connections expect him to progress to better things.

Hamish can expect a big hike in his rating following the manner in which he landed the 1m 6f handicap. He had far more in hand than the winning margin of two-and-three-quarter lengths and I expect him to be raised something around 8 to 10lb, to a mark of around 106 to 108.

At Newmarket Quadrilateral showed she had the courage to match her talent when staying on very well in the final furlong to beat Powerful Breeze in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile. Victory looked unlikely two furlongs from home – she went out to 75 on Betfair – and she is now down to 11/2 from 10/1 for the 1,000 Guineas. Runner-up Powerful Breeze was cut from 7/1 from 16s.

Alan King does really well with his Flat horses and his Trueshan won the valuable 1m 4f handicap very comfortably by three-and-three-quarter lengths from First In Line. This form gives quite a boost to the chance of Ranch Hand, who beat him last time out, in tomorrow’s Cesarewitch.

The winner will probably now be sent juvenile hurdling.

Later I thought Sparkling Ollie ran a nice first race to finish fifth in the fillies’ maiden. She could be one to keep on your side next year.

Bye for now

Marten