Optimism is sky high for 2025 Flat season

Paradias, who ran a blinder on All-Weather Finals day at Newcastle on Good Friday, will, like Brioni and, hopefully, Insanity if we can sort his feet out, be aimed at some of the middle-distance Heritage Handicaps this summer.

Then there is Tritonic and Spartan Army, both likely to be targeted at the big staying handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, while, of course, if ever the weather breaks again we still hope that Trueshan has at least one more season competing at the major meetings.

April showers were non-existent this year and it has been very difficult to be able to work the horses on our excellent grass gallops, but Trueshan has shown all his old ability and enthusiasm on the all-weather strip in the spring mornings, so we all have fingers crossed that we might yet enjoy a wet summer.

We have bought a handful of potentially exciting two-year-olds at the Breeze-Up sales, and, with the likes of Daiquiri Bay, Kurakka and Lola Moon looking above-average second-season performers, everyone at Barbury has a spring in their step these mornings.

Fingers crossed we’ll all enjoy a great 2025 and I hope that you have good reason for a celebration or two in the coming months.

ALAN

Trueshan and Hollie Doyle on their way to the start for the Goodwood Cup

Saturday 16 August
MARKET RASEN
5.50 NAP HAND (Tom Bellamy)
7.28 ERNEST GRAY (Tom Bellamy)