Weather once more plays havoc with plans

I am sounding a bit like a broken record talking about the weather and ground here almost on a weekly basis, but readers will understand what a huge bearing it has on what we do.

I have had very few runners during the week and will only have two over the weekend.

I had been planning to send quite a strong team of six to Down Royal last night but had to withdraw all bar two of them because of the heavy rain. Only Somethingdifferent and Alipine Eagle stood their ground, with Greenbelt Star, Clouded Thoughts, Parramatta and Scholars Princess all having to miss out. On the other side of things, Backbench Blues certainly wouldn’t have had any problem with the conditions at Limerick.

Ground hasn’t been much of an issue where I was for a few days during the week mind you. I have been staying with some friends in Mallorca. I only came out on Tuesday and flew back home last night, but it’s been great. It has been wall-to-wall sunshine. Some of my horses would have been as well off out there with me.

Gimli’s Rock runs in the Ulster Derby today and God knows what will happen, while Glamorous will take her chance in the Ulster Oaks. I’m using my apprentices for both, with Kevin Sexton on board Gimli’s and Charlie Elliott riding Glamorous.

Glamorous is in foal but still has a six-week window during which she can run. She will love the soft ground.

Gimli’s would have a great chance if he ran to form but nobody really knows what he will do. We’re just trying to keep him guessing and hope that it’s an approach that gets him interested. He hasn’t run on the flat for a long time, so maybe he’ll give it a go!

We won this race last year with Banksters Bonus, and with Fantoche in 2008, while we’ve been second a good few times as well. It would be nice to add the name to the roll of honour again but you just wouldn’t know with Gimli’s.

I took everything out of Gowran tomorrow because the ground is heavy but we have plenty to look forward to, with a number of two-year-olds coming out soon including over the Derby weekend. The weather hasn’t really been an issue for them, they’ve just been a bit slow in coming to hand. You don’t want to rush them though.

Bible Belt will run in the Pretty Polly next weekend, while before that, we’ve got Dane Street, Remember Alexander and Violet Lashes entered in the Oaks Trial at Naas. It will depend on the ground what I end up running. The latter two will like it soft but Dane Street wants good ground.

She is an example of the benefit of not rushing two-year-olds, only making her debut at the end of last season. Her form is rock solid with Princess Highway bolting up in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot on Thursday. She was third to Dermot’s filly on her seasonal reappearance in March and has come on a lot since then, as shown when winning a few weeks ago. If she gets her ground, she will be in with a very good chance.

Newberry Hill was disappointing for the second time in a row when fourth in the two-year-old maiden at Limerick last Saturday. He just hasn’t been going through with his effort so he has been gelded. Hopefully that will bring about the desired result and will be back in training next week.

Remember Alexander probably ran a good race when finishing in the same position in the Noblesse Stakes at Cork on Sunday. I thought she should have finished third but a mile-and-a-half is definitely the right distance for her and I think she’ll come on again for the run. She won a Group 3 as a two-year-old so it would be great if she could add another at three.

At the time of writing, I haven’t seen the races involving our three midweek runners yet, but I was pleased that Why But Why was second in the 4-y-o two-mile maiden hurdle at Wexford on Wednesday. We’re getting there with him now. He’s getting stronger and improving in himself physically. He’ll definitely win races.

Cinder Rua ran too free in the bumper. She hadn’t run since December so she was just too fresh. Kate was on board and it’s great that she’s back fit and flying after breaking her wrist and taking some time off in Australia while recovering from that.

I’m told that One Fine Day was very good when winning on her first appearance in a handicap at Leopardstown on Thursday. It was a good way to follow up her maiden success and she is likely to resume in a good fillies’ handicap at the Curragh next weekend, all being well.