Monday 21st April, 2025

Six Blue (pictured) travelled well for much of the race in the bumper at Cheltenham on Thursday.  However she stopped very quickly coming down the hill before the home straight and we will investigate her breathing this week.  She is a very well-bred mare who has shown plenty of ability at home and hopefully we can sort this problem out and get her back on the course soon.

Shibuya Song ran well to finish third on Saturday at Huntingdon in the three miles one furlong handicap hurdle.  The track was on the sharp side for her and she found it difficult to keep up with the very fast pace.  However she and Finn Lambert persevered and stayed on well in the straight.  She will come on for this race and we look forward to having a successful summer with her once she is on a more galloping track.

We have three runners today at Chepstow with Mattie Ross and Elfride in the three mile handicap hurdle run at 4.44pm and Manalishi in the bumper at 5.55pm.  Mattie wears cheekpieces for the first time which will hopefully help her concentrate and David Bass takes the ride.  The jockey started his career here at Adlestrop and his style of riding should suit her.  Whilst Harry Bannister once again teams up with Elfride who ran well last time out at Warwick.  We hope both will be competitive in an open race.

Manalishi has always shown promise at home but has taken plenty of time to mature.  A son of Malinas, he has a nice pedigree and although the race looks strong we look forward to him showing some promise and rewarding the patience of the Richard Phillips Racing Syndicate.

Swift Jet is declared in the three mile handicap hurdle at Ludlow on Wednesday.  This is his first time in a handicap and he has run well over course and distance in the past.  He has very much the make and shape of a chaser but it will be interesting to see how he fairs in handicap company and Sam Twiston-Davies is once again onboard.