Two winners for the Top 40

The Top 40 in Ahead On The Flat have been very poor this year but there were two winners for the section on Saturday. It was good to see Teona (3/1) translate his homework to the racecourse in a Listed contest at Windsor. A wide margin juvenile winner last winter, Roger Varian's filly had been touted as a Classic contender during the spring but she blotted her copybook by racing too keenly in the Musidora Stakes at York in May. Fitted with a hood in the Epsom Oaks, she was never in contention before finishing a remote tenth. Absent for 85 days, the daughter of Sea The Stars returned at the Thames track and produced a fine display to power away to win by nearly four lengths. While she is expected to have at least one more run this Autumn, her trainer feels she will come into her own as a four year old.

Despite her prohibitive odds, I was pleased to see Silk Romance outclass her rivals on the July course at Newmarket on Friday. Highlighted as one to follow in the York Ebor Update, Charlie Appleby's well bred daughter of Shamardal had shaped with considerable promise on her debut at Kempton. Much more streetwise on this occasion, she powered away to register a five and a half lengths win. The Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on the Rowley Mile (24th September) is likely to be next and it will take a good filly to beat her.

Thank you to those clients who purchased One Jump Ahead and the Updates over the Bank Holiday weekend, it is much appreciated. I am continuing to work on the book and still have a few more 'contacts' to speak to next week. The intention is for it to be published mid September but I will have a more definite date once I take it to the printers during the week starting the 6th September. I am trying to get the best possible information for customers. Indeed, on Sunday afternoon Paul Nicholls informed me of a new recruit he is trying to 'sign' from France subject to the horse being vetted. 

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