Coakley News
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Sunny forecast for better ground
21 August 2019
Yesterday the sunshine drew the camera back into action, and pictures from the gallops and the ring are featured in the Gallery.....
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Salisbury, Kempton and Chepstow runs
16 August 2019
Keeper's Choice ran a creditable race at Salisbury as the ground had gone to soft by the time her contest came around. Michael Pitt managed to get her into a nice position after a furlong, and she was travelling well up the hill but was not able to quicken out of the soft ground and come through the field as hoped, finishing in sixth place beaten under five lengths- just a nose and a neck from fourth. At Kempton, Givepeaceachance had a rare off day and was never travelling as well as she had done on the tapeta of Wolverhampton, Charlie Bishop calling on her for an effort at the quarter mile but she was not able to respond as she can do in the home straight. Lily Of Year was once again slow out of the gates, but then cruised forward nicely. In the middle of the race she went to the back of the field, and Michael Pitt was only able to get her really going forward inside the last furlong, running on very well into seventh place and beaten about eight lengths this time out.
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Fast ground undoes both horses
13 August 2019
The ground remained on the fast side at Windsor yesterday evening, which really did not suit either Lily Of Year and Bartimaeus. Lily got a little behind and would not let herself down fully in the first half mile, but finished well in the last two of the six furlongs and was only seven lengths behind as she came home in 7th of 12 runners. Lily holds an entry for Chepstow on Thursday, where a stiffer six and anticipated cut in the ground should prove beneficial. Oisin Murphy was pleased with Bartimaeus, as after breaking very sharply he was obliged to cut out all of his running in the race, and he kept on very well from the front end to keep fourth place at the finish, beaten a half a dozen lengths. The jockey is pretty convinced that he will much prefer a softer surface, and he could be winning very soon.
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Lily and Bartimaeus head to Windsor
12 August 2019
Last Monday the quickly firming ground meant that the going was unsuitable for both horses to take up their entries, but the 'Atlantic' feel to the current weather has left the ground at Windsor a little more suitable for Lily Of Year and Bartimaeus to race this evening. Lily runs in the opening race under Michael Pitt, and Bartimaeus goes at 7.30 with Oisin Murphy in the saddle.
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Roundup of a quiet week
27 July 2019
Unfortunately Sari Mareis repeated her tricks on Wednesday, planting herself in the stalls and refusing to race despite the best efforts of Denis and Rob Hornby to get her where she needed to be. She will now be destined to undertake barrier trials before she takes to the track again. Brilliant Riposte ran a really encouraging ten furlong race after over 320 days away from the races - finishing only four lengths from second in 7th from 13 runners. Michael Pitt ran into a few traffic problems and caused some too - to the dismay of the stewards - but turning in Brilliant Riposte had more to give, and horse and jockey will gain a lot from the experience on a tight track. On Friday Saumur headed up to Uttoxeter and went well under Jonny Burke, but she was a bit too careful with her hurdling which meant she was stretching to keep up with a strong field into the last half mile. The front three had all hurdled more fluently than Saumur, which told as they kicked away down the home straight and she could only finish a remote fourth behind some good opponents. This evening Ray Styles's colt Sheila's Showcase heads down to Salisbury for a Class 4 handicap at 7.15, on a track where he showed such promise on debut last summer.
