All Weather round-up: Eyecatchers, Kempton tips and Mark Johnston stable form
Mark Johnston's in-form stable comes under the microscope in Richard Mann's latest column, while fancies at Wolverhampton and Kempton also catch the eye.
I’m not sure I can recall the Mark Johnston stable ever being in the doldrums for too long. The constant flow of winners coming from Middleham means that the Johnston juggernaut is rarely anywhere near the cold list, and the no-nonsense style of racing that so many of the yard’s runners adopt means you invariably get a bold sight if they happen to be carrying your money.
Still, when you’re dealing with racehorses, it’s inevitable that the wind will blow warm and cold at different points in the season. In the case of Johnston, he has made a habit of blowing very, very hot at different junctures of the year - think Glorious Goodwood and we’re talking SPF 50.
The Middleham maestro appears to be in the midst of another streak before 2021 has barely broken into stride, and at the time of writing, Johnston has saddled six winners in the last couple of weeks at a most impressive strike-rate of 35 per cent.
Throw into the mix four seconds since Christmas, and it is patently obvious that we are dealing with a stable in very good form at present and a trainer whose string appears to be in rude health.
Johnston saddles two runners at Wolverhampton on Tuesday - Polar Fleece in the 5.40 and Ladywood in the 8.10. The latter, in particular, has to be of significant interest having won in fine style at Chelmsford recently when hinting that the handicapper might need some time before catching up with him.
On Wednesday, six-year-old Lucky Deal could have his work cut out at Kempton but recent victor Lord Of The Alps will be unpenalised if he takes his chance at Southwell on Thursday, while on the same day, there will surely be better to come from Dubawi colt Renbawi should he make his handicap debut at Wolverhampton.
With a number of other interesting entries in the coming days, expect the Johnston stable to maintain its latest fine run for a bit longer yet.
Pearson doing it for the girls
Hollie Doyle grabbed the headlines throughout 2020, and at the beginning of the 2021, too, following news of her engagement to Tom Marquand.
Doyle was back at work on Monday, so too another female jockey who has started to make plenty of her own waves in the saddle.
Laura Pearson might still be relatively unknown to the casual racing fan but her riding skills have already seen the likes of Richard Fahey, David Loughnane and Derek Shaw take notice and she has ridden winners for all three trainers since Christmas.
Pearson was seen to really good effect when guiding Furzig to another victory at Lingfield on New Year’s Eve, biding her time when initially looking short of room when turning for home before navigating a clear passage in the home straight and recording a stylish success.
Pearson’s main focus will now turn to becoming champion apprentice jockey during the All Weather Championships, and with chief rival Darragh Keenan set for a 14-day spell on the sidelines having picked up a suspension on Saturday, she is certainly in pole position.
In the meantime, plenty of trainers are sure to want to utilise a 7lb claim which Pearson is more than value for, before she goes down to 5lb, and that should mean she picks up plenty of nice rides in the coming days and weeks.
It might pay to keep Pearson on side in that period.
Cold snap bites but All Weather marches on
I don’t need much encouragement to ditch the midweek jumps action in favour of the sand, but with NH meetings falling left, right and centre in the midst of continuous wet weather and the recent cold snap, we might not have much choice.
Lingfield and Wolverhampton race on Tuesday, while Dunstall Park stages more racing on Wednesday when Kempton’s flat meeting is the only other action in the UK and Ireland.
As already suggested, Johnston and Pearson will be worth keeping a close eye on in the coming days while Mammasaidknockuout looks capable of winning again when she lines up in the six-furlong handicap at Kempton.
Richard Hannon’s charge was a cosy winner at Lingfield two starts back before running another big race when third at that same venue last time.
To my mind, she ran a bit better than the bare result would suggest having been forced to switch and mount her challenge on the inside rail, only beaten three quarters of a length at the finish. The winner, Obtuse, has already won twice since to give the form a really strong look for the grade and Mammasaidknockuout should still be well handicapped from a mark of 68.
Later in the night, Godolphin cast-off Great Esteem is a fascinating runner as the five-year-old makes only his third career start, and first for trainer Archie Watson, in the 1m4f novice stakes.
Another who is bred by that brilliant sire Dubawi, he has evidently had his problems but has already posted runner-up efforts at Wolverhampton and Leicester and is certainly in the right hands.
A really good card is highlighted by the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Conditions Stakes and Aberama Gold could well be capable of outshining Gulliver and the returning Streamline in what is a cracking heat.
Looking further ahead, Lingfield stages some nice races on Saturday and should the weather decide not to relent, the Surrey venue might attract more attention than would usually be the case on a Saturday afternoon.
The All Weather: doing exactly what it says on the tin.