Some exceptionally good form and a couple of doses of really bad luck saw all four runners over the weekend gain places but no winners at Lingfield and Bath. On Good Friday at Lingfield My Fermoy was just caught inside the last fifty yards in his bid for a follow up win, in a race with no pace where he was obliged to take it up from a prominent race position. Denis was very pleased indeed to see him finish so close up in second, and My Fermoy has always raced well for the Coakleys ever since his arrival in the yard. Party Island was not given a good ride in his twelve furlong apprentice handicap, racing well to the rear and then coming very wide around the home bend. Finishing like a train he got up to command a clear third place, but it was a question of what might have been with a better race position as he still bids for his tenth race win.

Unluckiest of all, running at Bath on Sunday, was Tribal Rhythm for Rossa Ryan. Travelling smoothly in fifth through the first five furlongs he then found himself in position Z on the inside rail and behind slowing horses. Rossa reported to the stewards that he was denied a clear run for a sustained period from the three furlong post, and it was only inside the last hundred yards that he found clear air and made very rapid headway to get up for second. The winner was already away but he really did look to be an extremely unlucky loser on this occasion, and Tribal Rhythm will hopefully make amends soon. Also coming second at Bath was the filly Sharma d'Amour for Chris Young. Drawn quite wide for George Bass, Sharma travelled beautifully for the first half of the mile race, and then was a real eyecatcher as she came with her run widest of all into the last quarter mile. She was able to pass half a dozen horses readily, but then found one just too far ahead to peg back by the line. This was another case of being primed for a win next time, and connections - albeit delighted with her fitness and performance - will be hoping for better luck to gain a bigger prize in her next run.