Marshall Aid ran a perfectly respectable race at Windsor on Monday evening in finishing a close up fourth, probably showing that around 14 furlongs is his right trip.

Today we take both King’s Heart and Misu Pete back to Chelmsford for their seven furlong handicap; Michael is taking both horses early this morning to avoid travelling them in the afternoon heat, which can be a debilitating experience when the temperature gets into the high 20s nevermind above 30 degrees centigrade that is forecast for this pm; thankfully the weather is forecast to ease from tomorrow.

Both horses go to Chelmsford, who look after the Owners who race their horses, the horses themselves and the staff who travel them well, more of which in a mo. Seven furlongs should suit both horses; as I have touched on before King’s Heart has the ability to win these kind of handicaps just by getting into the race calm and in the right frame of mind; Racheal does a fine job with him and the key is to get him from the racecourse stables to leaving the stalls without getting worked up; if he can achieve this and despite the wide draw, he could easily win.

We have the opportunity to put up SDS on Misu Pete; Silvestre has a spiffing %age track record on the SH and Rowdown horses over the last some five years and is riding at the top of his game;if the race is run at a true pace and Silvestre finds running space at the right time Misu Pete can go very close this evening. He remains well handicapped on his previous runs at Chelmsford; so probably the right approach today is two each way singles and a reversed forecast!!

Just getting back to Chelmsford the racecourse deserves credit for several things; not least the prizemoney for this evening’s race being some 60% more than Bay Fortuna won in winning a staying NH Handicap at an Arena track last Thursday and for the fact that they offer free food to the staff who travel the horses;the latter is something that, particularly when the temperatures are so oppressive in which to physically work. and given that the guys will not get back to Rowdown much before midnight, is both generous and of real value.