Denis Coakley's latest news...

• Sunny forecast for better ground

  21 August 2019

  Yesterday the sunshine drew the camera back into action, and pictures from the gallops and the ring are featured in the Gallery.....

• Salisbury, Kempton and Chepstow runs

  16 August 2019

  Keeper's Choice ran a creditable race at Salisbury as the ground had gone to soft by the time her contest came around. Michael Pitt managed to get her into a nice position after a furlong, and she was travelling well up the hill but was not able to quicken out of the soft ground and come through the field as hoped, finishing in sixth place beaten under five lengths- just a nose and a neck from fourth. At Kempton, Givepeaceachance had a rare off day and was never travelling as well as she had done on the tapeta of Wolverhampton, Charlie Bishop calling on her for an effort at the quarter mile but she was not able to respond as she can do in the home straight. Lily Of Year was once again slow out of the gates, but then cruised forward nicely. In the middle of the race she went to the back of the field, and Michael Pitt was only able to get her really going forward inside the last furlong, running on very well into seventh place and beaten about eight lengths this time out.

• Fast ground undoes both horses

  13 August 2019

  The ground remained on the fast side at Windsor yesterday evening, which really did not suit either Lily Of Year and Bartimaeus. Lily got a little behind and would not let herself down fully in the first half mile, but finished well in the last two of the six furlongs and was only seven lengths behind as she came home in 7th of 12 runners. Lily holds an entry for Chepstow on Thursday, where a stiffer six and anticipated cut in the ground should prove beneficial. Oisin Murphy was pleased with Bartimaeus, as after breaking very sharply he was obliged to cut out all of his running in the race, and he kept on very well from the front end to keep fourth place at the finish, beaten a half a dozen lengths. The jockey is pretty convinced that he will much prefer a softer surface, and he could be winning very soon.

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