Roundup of some recent races
Last week Party Island headed to Salisbury for a 7 furlong race, but wasn't able to finish off his race quite as hoped and match the winner who had dropped sixteen pounds from his rating last autumn. Party Island did keep on for third beaten just over six lengths. After four runs in quick succession he is due a short break now. On Monday three went to Bath on the rain softened ground - Eagles Dare top weight in a nursery for the first time, pictured in the green and yellow silks of Keepers 12. He found the early pace much faster than his first two runs, so was well back in the field and had to start weaving through as he made up ground entering the last two furlongs. Finishing strongly to get into a close fourth by the line he was beaten less than three lengths but not able to give over a stone to the vastly improved winner. Tom Queally felt that he will have learned a lot from his third run. Ruskin Red was finally able to get a run, having been balloted out from previous entries, and he made a good fist of running against several considerably superior horses with Michael Pitt taking off seven pounds. Passing three horses into the final furlong he made a very creditable fourth place, having been well outpaced through the first half of the race, and he will now be able to take his place in a handicap. Bartimaeus settled very well for Charlie Bishop in his ten furlong race, certainly appreciating the cut in the ground. Contending for third in the closing stages, he just found others had a little more finishing speed and he held fifth place this time and will perhaps switch up an extra two furlongs for his next races. Bartimaeus is pictured here in the blue and yellow silks of West Ilsley Racing (Mountford and Ross)