Author: Russ

The 3 fillies and mares running at Saint Cloud on Sunday are likely to face bottomless ground which rules out at any for betting purposes. The best chance is with Hoseki in the 11.48 Group 3 over 10f. She is up in grade and unproven on Soft ground as is the case with Frances Ethel…

William Haggas has his sights set on Saint-Cloud on Sunday, with four runners heading across the Channel—although current storms may well impact their travel plans. I will cover those four races tomorrow. That leaves the very disappointing 3yo Crown Office to fly the Somerville Lodge flag on Saturday, which is no bad thing given the…

The first runner on Friday Bulletsnap in the 6f Nursery at Doncaster looks to be by far the most likely Somerville Lodge winner of the weekend. The 2yo was originally purchased by the Stauffenberg racing operation probably to give them a runner at Royal Ascot. He held an entry in the Coventry Stakes until the…

The first runner on Friday Bulletsnap in the 6f Nursery at Doncaster looks to be by far the most likely Somerville Lodge winner of the weekend. The 2yo was originally purchased by the Stauffenberg racing operation probably to give them a runner at Royal Ascot. He held an entry in the Coventry Stakes until the…

As the first Cheltenham National Hunt fixture of 2026/27 begins on Friday it’s appropriate that the flat season looks like winding down under soft or heavy conditions. One of the big disappointments of the Haggas season is the number of 3yo’s that have won Class 4,5,6 handicaps. Only 11 Class 4,5,6 3yo handicaps have been…

Sea La Rosa duly obliged to provide Somervile Lodge with a 2nd 2yo winner of the week. Her win was in only a moderate 3 runner Newcastle maiden but her breeding is such that any win is of considerable value in the paddocks. It will be a surprise if she doesn’t progress to be a…

The week started as expected with Al Qayed the only winner on the day. He was heavily backed into 4/7 but scrambled home by a nose which more than justified our no bet stance. The other two that had chances were both not up to the level required to win their contests but ran well.…

The Champions Day at Ascot signaled the end of period 4 of our 2025/26 season. Although it looked possible the yard, could have a couple of winners on Saturday, I am sure given a choice that Almeraq would be the only success Haggas would have taken it all day long. Opportunity had his chance impacted…

There is little doubt that Venetian Lion would have won easily on Friday but got trapped on the far rail for most of the final 3 furlongs and when he finally got a clear run it was all too late. He is very well handicapped and it will be interesting to see if he goes…

There is little doubt that Venetian Lion would have won easily on Friday but got trapped on the far rail for most of the final 3 furlongs and when he finally got a clear run it was all too late. He is very well handicapped and it will be interesting to see if he goes…