Joe McConnell
East have a big lead after a fifth quarter in Week 2, but nothing is taken for granted ahead of Week 3 Chepstow on Thursday, live on Vscek Racing.
I’D BREAK YOUR HAND FOR A WINNER AT CHEPSTOW
I have always had the utmost faith in my team, The East, but to win eight of the first 14 races in the Racing League is something I could never have imagined.
Three winners in the second week of our ‘home’ race at Yarmouth got us off to a flying start, but winning five of the seven races at Wolverhampton last Thursday was an incredible achievement.
To have a real winner in our yellow jersey in King and Queen’s Reaching High, coached by the great Sir Michael Stoute, made it all the more special, and to think that we played our wildcard in a race in which we only finished fifth shows what an amazing team effort it was.
However, a lot can change in a week and week three at Chepstow on Thursday could have a very different outcome as we only have eight runners from a possible 14.
The undulating track, the possibility of rain softening the ground and the sheer logistics of getting horses to South Wales for many of my trainers have sapped our strength in numbers. In fact, if you offered me a winner and a couple of seconds right now, I would break your hand.
Reaching High was impressive in the second week of the Racing League
We will have no representatives in the first two games, so it will be unbearable to watch from the sidelines as our rivals, particularly home team Wales and The West, pile up winners and chip away at our early lead of over 100 points.
We only have two jockeys in action at Chepstow, but the elegant Danny Muscutt was in splendid form at Wolverhampton, riding a double, and young Harry Davies has three opportunities to record his first win with our yellow horses.
We’ll be in action in the third race, a 6f handicap which will be contested by Stuart Williams EMINENCE and James Fanshawe’s hat-trick in search ALPINE GIRL. Eminency’s fifth-place form in a hot handicap at Newmarket last month has worked well with the second and fourth both winners since then, so Danny can expect a good performance from a gelding who has returned to an attractive score.
Arthur’s Realm won the Spring Mile Handicap last year and runs in the penultimate race
Alpine Girl, who was drawn higher in post nine, is thriving with wins on firm ground at Lingfield Park and Salisbury. She has gone up 7lb since that winning run began but can contribute some valuable points if the ground stays on the fast side.
Stuart fields the eccentric but talented EXISTING in the 5f sprint at 7am and I have a strong feeling he will run a great race in his first visor. He is well handicapped, being 6lbs down on his last winning mark, and the helmet could give him that extra spark.
I rely on Ed Dunlop’s class Walter Hartright, Walter Hartright’s son to fly the flag for us in the fifth race, a 1m 4f (7.30) handicap after winning his last four races, including a Racing League heat at Yarmouth a fortnight ago. Despite his winning streak, we don’t think Danny’s mount has reached the limit of his capabilities.
He will be joined by another Stuart Williams runner, THE THUNDERINGthat interests me. He finished well behind Walter at Yarmouth, but he looks like the sort of horse who will win when he gets a run to suit him. The visor could help him find enough improvement to put some vital points on the board.
Ed and Danny team up again in the 8.00, a £50,000 handicap over 10f, with the reliable ARTHUR’S KINGDOM who is tough and versatile and will not be disturbed if the forecast rain arrives in South Wales. He won on soft ground at Beverley and Redcar in the spring and is the highest-ranked runner in the lineup with a rating of 92.
There could be a lot riding on the final 8.30am race, the £75,000 Class 2 race over 7f, and we have two options. My assistant manager Charlie Fellowes runs BITTER who was only narrowly beaten in a valuable handicap at Newmarket in May and is now down in weight.
I am also very grateful to Roger Varian for allowing me GREATGADIAN seize the opportunity to bolster our ranks. Roger thinks it could be a short trip for this gelding, whose best form is over 1m, but if he puts in the effort he could also play a role in the finale.
Greatgadian (left) strengthens the ranks of Team East
Jamie Osborne, who has a great relationship with Wales and the West, and Ireland manager Kevin Blake will be licking their chops at the prospect of closing the gap on us on Thursday, but after such a bright start it will be all about damage limitation in Chepstow.
If we can come away from Thursday night’s action with at least one winner and a few horses placed, we will still be in a strong position for the remaining games at Windsor, Newcastle and Southwell. I look forward to fielding a strong lineup in all three of those games, particularly at Newcastle, where some of my trainers have horses that expect to do well.
I started doing Racing League because I wanted to win it. I am desperate to come in first, and I feel that feeling among all my trainers and jockeys. I love the sport: I ride for my friend Dylan Cunha and I have a two-year-old who has never raced with him. I love everything Racing League brings to the table.
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