Fran Berry hopes History Writer can defy the handicapper and follow up his recent Sandown victory at Newmarket.
Looking back to last weekend and it was a bit disappointing how we didn't have a winner at the Shergar Cup – especially after Great Britain & Ireland won it last year - but a massive well done to the girls. They were fantastic on the day and Hayley Turner was a deserved winner of the Silver Saddle.
Despite not winning this time myself and the family really enjoyed the day as ever and it was great to go back there and catch up with a load of people after racing. The crowds are huge on Shergar Cup day and I think Ascot do it all amazingly well.
I even managed to stay around for a couple of songs from Rita Ora who was performing after racing before making my exit.
Starting this week with Treasure Me winning at Wolverhampton and Across The Sea at Ffos Las was a boost and they're nice fillies with that all-important winning bracket to their name.
James Tate was hopeful of a big run from Across The Sea beforehand and she came through nicely to win. I'd have thought there'd be more to come from her as she moves up another furlong in distance.
4th start, 1st win for filly ACROSS THE SEA @Franmberry in 5f 2yo handicap @FfosLasRC today for @DarleyStallions Dubawi and trainer James Tate pic.twitter.com/HlWQuQfvK2
— steven cargill (@Steven_Cargill) August 14, 2018
It's great news that David Menuisier and the team have opted to supplement Thundering Blue into the Juddmonte International and it's going to be an exciting race to be part of.
It's a big shout from David but it's a sporting decision and the horse does seem to reserve his best for York. He's going there in the form of his life and gave me the impression there was a bit more to come when winning the Sky Bet York Stakes last time.
That was a Group Two so it's the next logical step and while it promises to be a very, very strong line-up with the likes of Poet's Word and Cracksman, plus the Guineas winner, the St James's Palace winner and Coral-Eclipse winner too, my horse is a strong finisher and should hopefully be doing his best work at the end.
They've had a bit of rain at Newbury on Friday morning and I expect it to be riding like good ground. It's a busy day thankfully though I might have to wait a bit for my better chances of the day.
Deadly Accurate has had two good runs this season, but has been ridden with a bit more restraint lately. I reckon forcing tactics seem to suit and I'll be looking to be more positive. The rain looks to have come at a good time for him but he's not obviously well treated.
Monjeni gave me no real feel at Salisbury in truth. He's possibly a bit quirky and just needs a bit of cover. Hopefully he strips fitter for his comeback effort but his excellent season last year leaves him on quite a stiff mark. The track should suit though, as will the good gallop that looks likely here.
Blame Roberta goes in the Listed Byerley Stud Stakes and it's a competitive event. I suppose if you're going to pull of a bit of a shock and claim a Listed win then a five-furlong fillies' sprint might be the race to do it.
It'll be a quick trip on the plane with some of my weighing room colleagues as we head over to Newmarket for the evening meeting on the July Course. The track has been good to me this season and Mont Kiara has fallen down the ratings which could give him a squeak.
His last two runs have been quite poor but his first run after a wind op at Catterick was encouraging. He likes to get a bit of cover so doesn't look badly drawn to slot in from stall 11.
I wouldn't ride too many first time out for Luca Cumani but I'd imagine Avenue Foch might be better with a bit of time.
She's a lovely pedigree and the ground will be perfect given her breeding so it'll be a case of jumping out and seeing how she goes. Realistically, a watching brief may be the best advice with her.
Sod’s Law made a good start to his career at Kempton in December but just hasn’t gone on for one reason or another. His form has been okay since but needs to get back to that first run to stand any chance of winning from a mark of 75. The big field might just eke out something and I'd hope to come with a late run.
Matewan was a bit backward as a two-year-old. He ran quite well at Wolverhampton on his first run back and his first outing in a handicap. There wasn't much fluency to him and he was off the bridle on that sharp track so I'm hoping he can show the benefit of that experience.
It wouldn't surprise me if there was improvement to come on this more galloping track, especially with cheekpieces fitted for the first time.
History Writer got it together in very good style at Sandown last time. They had some rain the day before which allowed him to let himself down and while he was still a bit raw, he came me a really good fell. He travels well but was just a bit green which suggests there's more improvement in him.
He's gone up 7lb in the weights but was always going to get hit for winning by more than three lengths and should still hold a very good chance of doubling up.
It's back to Newmarket on Saturday too where I ride Mawsool first time out for Ed Dunlop in the opener. Ed's horses are back in good form and this home-bred son of Kodiac colt can go well at the first time of asking.
Lucky Beggar runs in the greys-only race which is a bit of a spectacle in itself and has some decent prize-money. David Griffiths does well with these experienced sprinters and he's had a busy time as you might expect but he'll have to get back to some sort of form.
Great Hall is on a mark where it’s difficult to win. He won a nice pot at Ripon at the start of the season but any more rain that fell would help here. Small fields do seem to suit and he's capable on his day but looking it it then the three-year-old Sleeping Lion could be hard to beat.
Turnpike Trip ran a good race at Sandown when I rode him in June after badly needing his first run of the season. He's been off the track but is on a mark where he can be competitoive. Henry Candy’s team look to be coming back to form on recent evidence so fingers crossed the extra trip is a plus - I'm convinced it will be.
I was third on Princess Harley in a good maiden at HQ last season but she didn’t win a maiden in the spring when I thought she might. She went well at Nottingham over 10 furlong but she’s been a bit disappointing on the whole.
