Grandeur D’Ame chases hat-trick at Warwick on Thursday

March 28

Alan expects a quiet week, what with the all the recent rain which has had us all checking the calendar to confirm that we did officially move into Spring 10 days ago.

However, Grandeur D’Ame has won two of his four races over fences, and, despite an 8lb rise, he looks to have a solid chance of following up his 17 lengths success at Stratford when he tries for the hat-trick at Warwick on Thursday.

Alan said:”Grandeur D’Ame had a couple of entries after Stratford, where he could have run with a penalty, but he bruised a foot so could not run at Haydock

“However, it wasn’t the strongest of races, and he has only gone up another pound as the handicapper had already put him up 7lb. He won in good style and has taken well to fences, and he jumped much straighter at Stratford than he had done at Huntingdon, so it’s definitely a plus that he faces another left-hand course here.”

We also have a couple of runners at Taunton tomorrow, including Roscoe Tara, who last ran on this same day two years ago when finishing third in a maiden hurdle at Warwick.

Alan added:”He’s been off a long time with a tendon injury and needs to get started. He showed ability in that first season hurdling and he has been pleasing me at home, so it will be good to have him back and I’d think we’d probably be looking to try him over fences later on.”

Spartan Army, one-time bandied about as a likely lad for the Triumph Hurdle, has been disappointing, but Alan has not lost faith in the horse, though he has opted to attempt to get him back on track in the juvenile hurdle at Taunton rather than the handicap at Ascot on Sunday.

Alan said:”Spartan Army came from Joseph O’Brien, and he has always worked like a good horse at home. He won first time out for us at Wetherby in November, but it did not happen for him either in the Finale Junior Hurdle at Chepstow or in the Adonis at Kempton. But I’m sure that everything will click into place again one day and he’ll appreciate dropping down the grades here.”