11 months ago
76
JANUARY is always a quiet — not to mention wet and bloody cold — time of the year for many of the big yards.
And we are no exception. One of the reasons for that is the fact the horses get their flu jabs this month.
GettyFactor in all the abandonments, first the rain before Christmas and now the frost these last few days, and it’s hard to make plans, let alone entries.
If you’re in our game, you need something warm to keep you smiling in the dark and gloom before ‘first lot’.
And Gidleigh Park is that horse for us.
He’s the one who — fingers’ crossed — can win a big race at one of the spring Festivals.
It has been three years since we won a Grade 1 — Metier in the old Tolworth at Sandown — and I’m hoping Gidleigh Park can change that.
Next stop will be the Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 27.
He’s right up there with the very best of the novice hurdlers to have come through our doors.
We haven’t got a runner in the big race on Saturday — the Silviniaco Conti — but it will be well worth a watch.
My former boss Paul Nicholls is sweet on Pic D’Orhy who won it last year and looked good at Ascot on his return.
I’d be with Edwardstone though. He’s ten now but has held his own against Jonbon and this step up to two and a half miles could be just the job.
Going up in trip is often the answer for these older horses and Alan King’s runner can prove he is still a class act.
Harry was speaking in association with Grosvenor Sport
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