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That feeling of having lost one’s marbles evaporated today with T For Tango. I’ll give it til Monday. We have Thebeastfortheeast going to Dundalk tomorrow. Observing the nice 2 year olds of the bigger yards and seeing how they come forward for their first run means his time is now. I’m joking. He was raw as bedamned the first day. Conducted himself well beforehand, smooth into stalls, jumped slowly and then way too forward going for 3 furlongs. It was a bit of a surprise given he’s very laid back at home. His work, amongst horses has been relaxed. Hopefully he got the message that he has to conserve and if he does that then he should build on his first run. He has been well since he ran. He didn’t do anything to burst any bubbles the first day and if he consents to go through the gears in an orderly fashion he should run well.

We start another baby tomorrow. Diascia, a Lethal Force filly out of a Singspiel mare. I hadn’t looked in to her pedigree in detail but she seems quick and Lethal Force should be an influence for speed hence the 6 furlong opening trip. I was surprised to see her mother won over 14 furlongs. Anyway start she must. She’s a lovely filly, not big but very likeable and a terrific temperament. She wears her head low and would probably handle a bit of cut. I’d like to think she might be good enough to win a maiden. Chris rode her in both her bits of work and didn’t mind her. She’ll probably be slowly away tomorrow and some imagination might be required but hopefully she’ll be fine thereafter.

We have one runner tomorrow at The Junction. It’s a mixed card and we send Alcatraz for the 9 furlong handicap. He has come back from a brief hiatus in good form and his last 2 runs have been pleasing. We were commenting pre race the last day how he had got so much better jumping from stalls. He must have been listening to us. Chris said he got mulish as bedamned at the back of the stalls and thought about not bothering to jump off. He got out of his ground as a result but stayed on well and ran terrific in the circumstances. The extra furlong tomorrow and the slower ground and a repeat would still have him close. Alcatraz is not one to be hanging your hat on but he has been more predictable lately so hopefully. I’m a bit sensitive to our runners being described as ungenuine. He’s one of the kindest most timid horses in training with plenty of miles on the clock and we’re very fond of him. If he continues to be predictable (enough) then we might postpone the claiming route for the time being.

A quick return to Naas and the only pity is I don’t have Alcatraz in the claiming race. He’s some wind up merchant. New blood tomorrow, Thebeastfortheeast. He came named. At first I thought it was a mistake but then realised his target market and it’s a great name. Hong Kong are you watching? This guy has a lot going for him. A big strong boy with pedigree and gears. He’s in hibernation mode at home but when he goes away his work is excellent. All things being equal and if I can keep him safe he will win his maiden and that’ll be my job done. Reads like fighting talk or sales talk but it’s not. The fact that tomorrow is a deep maiden isn’t lost on me so a nice positive run to springboard to his next run would be enough.

We head to Navan in search of a September winner. It’s proving tougher than I would have expected at the start of the month. No point wallowing I suppose. Artworld runs in the 70 5f Handicap. His run the last day was fine. He half threatened but probably ran as well as he’s capable of. If he kept repeating that run one of these would fall his way. Predicting the day will be the tricky part. It could be today or in 6 runs time. We’ll see.   Cautious Approach runs in the mile fillies maiden. She’s been drawn in stall 17 of 18 and that appears to put paid to her chances. A repeat of her Leopardstown 4th would have her competitive but she’ll have had to do plenty running from out wide and it’s likely to tell late on. Every time we get drawn poorly I spend 24 hours convincing myself they’ll be fine. They never are.   I’d be surprised if I’m not missing another couple of clumps this evening. Alcatraz tomorrow to finish me off!

I gave 2 days at Tattersalls September Yearling sales this year and ended up with one filly. That was lot 402 and she’s nice. A Champs Elysees (bit unorthodox) filly out of an Invincible Spirit mare. She cost €10k. We’ll be in single figures for yearlings this year but we have one from Doncaster and may add a couple more over the coming 6 weeks. A total of 8 or 9 would be 8 or 9 more than we had last year. Definitely progress. The two year olds we have now trickled through since springtime and they are lovely to have. They’re a totally different challenge and we have done Ok with the one’s we’ve had. Ok being the operative word. A few 2nds etc. Hopefully I can be a bit more effusive before the season ends. We have one runner tomorrow and it’s back at Dundalk. We’ll have a few for the winter series but nothing major. It’s often said to me that Dundalk is a happy hunting ground for us. It’s not really, we have had a few winners up there but the one’s that run to the limit of their ability tend to come back with problems. Some major, some of no great consequence. I wouldn’t describe it as kind. Global Pass is nowhere near the limit of his ability I feel. He doesn’t appear to have the strength or the maturity to take what he does at home and translate it fully to the track. For that reason and because of his pedigree he should be fine tomorrow. It should suit him really. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but driving home from Naas the last day the word imbecile was ringing around my head. There wasn’t much need to up him in class, go a stiff mile and make the running. He wasn’t ready for that and he curled up in the final furlong. He’s showing no ill effects and if he comes back to his Killarney form and stalks a fast pace (appears likely) he should run well. 7f should be fine.

Daliyah heads to Gowran tomorrow for the mile 45-65. There was 122 entries for this race and in general the low grade races are filling and then some. You tend to be more flexible with race distances as a result. I’d prefer to be going 7f with her but that involved a wait. Daliyah ran Ok on her first run for us. Travelling sensibly enough before flattening out and looking a bit awkward late on. She’d be entitled to improve for fitness and with that run under her belt you’d hope for a step forward. She’s anything but easy to assess. There’s a reason why she has plummeted in the ratings, she’s a bit daft and refuses to give herself a chance. In hope rather than expectation….

Our 2nd 2 year old debutant tomorrow and let’s hope things go a bit smoother than the first lad. He was expected to improve for the experience but I didn’t expect him to stand still for what felt like a minute in the stalls. There was a filly in beside him and he gave the first furlong screeching after her. Clown! Anyway on to tomorrow for what appears to be a Guineas trial, only more runners! Naas would be one of the best spots for the top outfits to introduce their superstars and should be fine for us to introduce our’s! Doesn’t take quite as much to be top dog in Ballingarry but I do like this fella. He’ll start with no pressure, Chris is brilliant to further their education and will give him the best possible start. Hopefully this lad shows enough to suggest he can do a job before the year is out or at the very least to give us something to look forward to for the springtime. Whether it’s race riding or riding work Chris is very mindful of these babies. He’s kind to them and they thrive as a result. Hopefully more of the same tomorrow.

Just the one tomorrow. El Chalten wasn’t given a mark after her 3rd run and has to run again. Hopefully the handicapper relents and allows us to go the handicapping route with her after tomorrow. It’s frustrating as there’s not a lot of time left for her this year and she has been in training a long time now with shag all to show for it. Dundalk would be out of the question for her, she’s not the easiest of movers and a leg would be liable to fly off. As always she’ll do the best she can. Her run the last day hinted at promise but it was a deplorable race and there was still 16 in front of her at the death. The worse the ground is the better it will suit her. She’s not one to be excited about even when she goes handicapping but in the back of my mind if she turns up somewhere when the ground is barely raceable she might do a job.