Smooth success for Danger Bay

Thank you to all those clients who emailed following Danger Bay's victory at Hamilton on Tuesday evening. A ready winner over C&D on his previous start towards the end of June, Ed Bethell gave him a break afterwards. Allocated a mark of 89 for his handicap debut, the New Bay colt travelled strongly in behind long time leader Ayr Poet before taking charge with over two furlongs to run. Pushed out to score by a length and a quarter, the winning margin flattered those in behind. In an ideal world, Danger Bay could have done with a lead for longer but Jim Goldie's front runner wasn't good enough to do so. Speaking to his trainer afterwards, there is a suitable ten furlongs handicap for three year olds - £70,000 0-105 - at Doncaster on Thursday 11th September. Likely to be rated in the mid 90s on the back of this success, he looks tailormade for the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket later the same month. However, one note of caution is the fact Bethell has minded him until this point and may not to wish to thrown him into such a competitve handicap. Either way, he is a highly promising young horse.

Aside from a trip to Hamilton, I spoke to Dan Skelton who kindly ran me through his all conquering squad for the winter ahead. With approximately 40 new recruits from Britain, France and Ireland, it promises to be another exceptional year for Paul Nicholls' former assistant. Having gone close in the trainers' title during the last two years, it would be no surprise to see Dan go one better next spring. There are any number of exciting prospects housed at Lodge Hill Stables in Warwickshire.

Just a reminder that the York Ebor Festival Update will be emailed to clients on Monday next week (18th August). Please head to the Publications section of the site to order your copy, if you haven't already done so. Talking of the York Update, William Haggas emailed me his running plans for next week on Wednesday and also suggested where his exciting three year old Almeraq will be heading next. News of the Shadwell owned colt will be revealed in the Update.