Friday 27th March, 2026

Little Big Kev didn’t travel or jump with his normal fluency at Southwell on Tuesday and we will do a few tests to see if we can find out why this would be.  He has had wind surgery in the past but he usually travels and jumps well and we look forward to getting him right before starting his novice chasing career.

Manton Road lost all momentum on the bend turning for home when squeezed by two other runners and Rab Havlin reported he never really recovered after that but was only beaten just over four lengths by the winner.  I am sure he will finish a lot closer when things go his way.

Hidden Target (pictured) ran very pleasingly in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Chepstow yesterday and although out-paced three out, he stayed on well after the last to finish third and prove that three miles would suit him well.  We look forward to him rewarding his owner’s patience once stepping up in trip over a fence.

We have entries for both Dora Vita and Six Blue at Kempton on Monday with the latter making her flat debut having looked short of stamina in her bumpers.  A daughter of Blue Bresil, let’s hope she enjoys the all-weather as much as her paternal half-brother Constitution Hill.

Looking forward to the flat season ahead and I’ve already filled out a few horses to follow lists for various competitions.  Once again there is much to look forward to with the turf season kicking off tomorrow at Doncaster.  As ever, several of my selections are trained at Ballydoyle.  It will be fascinating to see how Albert Einstein gets on on his seasonal debut. His trainer has issued glowing reports of his ability and speed although the soft, heavy ground will be a surface very different to that he ran on last summer.