Royal Household with winning connections
Racing on Friday came from Chepstow, Goodwood and Sandown. The evening got off to a good start with ROYAL HOUSEHOLD winning the opener at Goodwood. The son of Camacho was first seen finishing a good second at York on debut and came on a lot from that first trip to the post. He was taken to the lead under Hollie Doyle and made all the running. He was challenged by opposition two furlongs from home and stayed on strongly—drawing clear from the field inside the final furlong. ‘He improved well from his first start and should come on yet again from this run. The strength he showed in finishing suggests that he will benefit from a seven furlong trip and we will look to stretch him out next time.'
On Saturday at Sandown the son of Kittens Joy, BRISTOL MISSILE, went off a short priced favourite under Ryan Moore. He duly delivered in impressive style and looks a nice prospect. 'He has had a few runs but seems to have got the hang of things now. He can now go on and notch up a few handicaps with this added confidence.'
It was a good day's racing Sunday with runners at Salisbury and Doncaster.
EQTIRAAN captured the featured race at Salisbury, the listed Cathedral Stakes over 6 furlongs. He broke from the stalls well under Jim Crowley and sat just off the pace tracking the leaders. Jim asked him to challenge the front runners a furlong from home and he opened up nicely to lead in the final 100 yards staying on well to win. 'He is a horse that we always believed had ability but has taken us some time to figure him out. The trip and the ground suited him well today and he should progress nicely from here. I think we still havn't seen the best of him yet'.
BILLESDON BROOK was making her third appearance at the races going 6 furlongs at Salisbury. She was well away from the stalls and settled just off the lead. She was there two furlongs from home but was edged in the final furlong. 'She has run well again today on ground that did not suit her. The trip is right but the ground was too firm'.
A double came on Monday at Nottingham under the capable guidance of Sean Levey. LEXINGTON GRACE delivered a good result having been showing improvement on every run. 'She has been a filly that shows plenty of speed but after that run she should have no trouble stepping up in trip.' The other winner was NAYEL who has been off the track for over 200 days. 'I was very impressed with his effort today and I feel he is still improving with age. Hopefully he can go on from here and notch up a few more wins with this added confidence.'