Up a bit, down a bit - 24th April

Another week goes by and I'm starting with the Class 4 Handicap over 5f 10 yds won by Cheworee at Windsor on 15th April. She won by a nose from Cruisetothelimit with My Son Max 3/4 of a length back in third and she recorded a fair time figure on her first run of the season. Trained by Elsworth who knows how to place a good horse there should be more wins ahead in the coming weeks. The win sees her go up in the ratings by 5lb to a mark of 87, whilst the second is raised 4lb to 82 and the third 2lb to 84.Noverre To Go went to the far side with Cadeaux Pearl and in the circumstances both of those did well to finish as close as they did.

At the Craven meeting, at Newmarket, Zanetto won the Class 2 3yo sprint by 3/4 of a length from the Irish runner Clancy Avenue with the same distance back to Graphic Quest in third. The winner has been raised 6lb for his win to a mark of 100 whilst the second and third remain on the same marks of 89 and 99 respectively. The winner now heads to Ascot in two weeks time according to his trainer.

Later in the afternoon Shahdaroba won the Class 2 Handicap over 6f by a length from Regal Dan with 1 1/4 lengths back to Equitania in third. The winner has been raised 7lb to 94 which compares favourably with the winner of the previous race based on time figures and he would have preferred easier going than he found here.Professor ran on well in fourth and was only just run out of third by Equitania.

The following day Tickled Pink clocked a time of 1m 9.88s but was helped by a tailwind and on time figures and therefore ran to a similar standard of those who raced on day one. The handicapper took no chances and he has raised her 25lb to 109 but she pretty much had the run of the race here with the other Jockeys probably thinking she was going to set the race up for them. Jimmy Styles fnished second again and has been dropped a 1lb, whilst Move In Time did very well considering he'd had a hard race last weekend and this was stretching his stamina to the limit. Hawkeyethenoo was finishing well from off the pace and the Victoria Cup looks on the cards again.

At Ripon on Thursday Another Citizen won the Class 4 Apprentice Handicap over 5f beating Oldjoesaid by a short head, the secons was putting up his second good run of the season and has been raised a further 4lb. One that was running on well from the back an looked an awkward ride for his Jockey was Alaskan Bullet and he has been dropped 1lb to 79.

On Friday at Bath Place In My Heart won very well in beating My Propeller a length and a half in the Class 1 Fillies Listed Race over 5f 11 yds and in doing so recorded a top time figure.She was at the front from the word go and they were not hanging about yet she was very tenacious towards the finish and won going away. Clive Cox said afterwards "I was pleased the ground dried out for Place In My Heart as she wants decent ground. We can now go away and think about where we go next but she will be probably moving up to graded company".

At Newbury the following day William Haggas's Heeraat recorded the best time figure in the UK so far for a sprinter this season when easily winning the Class 2 Dubai Duty Free Handicap over 5f 34yds by two lengths from El Viento with a further one a half lengths back to Kingsgate Choice in third.
Heeraat looks an exciting sort for the months ahead and is entered in the Duke of York. The third didnt start well was settled out the back and stayed on towards the finish despite looking a bit awkward and should be capable of winning something.