We met Judie at the Pre-Parade ring as Stuart led Bryn away to be saddled; as he was getting very excited in the saddling enclosure. Bryn came back and looked lively in the parade ring. Fergus was told to take him to the front and make more use of him today.

They loaded with little difficulties. He led from the off and kept them all keen, settling in well. He was challenged several times during the race but showed a good turn of foot to see them off only to be beaten by a flying last minute run losing by half a length.

Fergus reported that even though he lost a shoe he ran his heart out and was only beaten by a horse which is second best in that trainer’s yard.
Bryn looked like he enjoyed the race and was really game at the end. Even though he lost a shoe he still put tremendous performance. It looks like Stuart has found the key to his style of running.

We all had fun and a celebratory glass or two later on for him. We also enjoyed the top race of the day …. the ‘Wife Carrying Race’ over ½ furlong and the winner received their weight in Bath Ale! The plucky couple held on until a late challenger took the lead meters from the line but they collapsed just shy of winning post giving the plucky couple back both the lead and victory!

Steve

After luckily missing the 1st race (I was going to back a horse that finished mid division) I bumped into Stuart on a glorious afternoon at Dunstall Park.

After congratulating him on his win at Salisbury the previous afternoon Stuart also mentioned that he was pleased with May Be Some Time’s return to form. Bryn had travelled up well and we were looking forward to see how he fared upped in distance.

Stuart went off to check on the saddling process as I watched another loser.

We reconvened in the parade ring when Bryn entered last of the field very much on his toes. He looked fit as a flee. Chris Catlin arrived and Stuarts instruction was to get him out into a good position making use of the number 1 draw and try and keep him handy on the inside trying to save as much distance as possible due to going into the unknown distance wise.

The race began and Chris managed to get him out. Early on he was taken on for the lead by a horse in 1st time blinkers who seemed to be a bit lit up. Chris decided to tuck him in and tracked him for the next furlong or so.

From the grandstand we could see that he was never really travelling and rounding the top bend he started to fall back in the field.

Coming into the final straight we knew that the outcome was not as hoped and he trailed in 11th of 12.

Unsaddling Chris said that he had dropped him back rather than take on the other horse and was ready to push on nearer home however there was nothing in the tank.

Chris mentioned that maybe he should be tried in some headgear over 6f and let him bowl along.

Afterwards Stuart was at a loss as to why the preformance was so poor. Possibly the surface or whether his attitude was a problem were a couple of reasons. Stuart mentioned that with the dry weather he would hope to get him out in the next couple of weeks on some firm turf as Bryn could take his racing and back over 6f.

He mentioned that if performances were poor he would look to wrap him up a long time before Christmas (he had planned to run him until December.)