Kitty’s Glance will get a real confidence boost from yesterday’s Huntingdon win

March 19

Barbury look to have a useful bunch of bumper horses this season, with a fistful emerging triumphant during March, and, while Stars Aligning and Georgie Too, did not manage to join that group in the last week, both might well have bumped into above-average performers.

Stars Aligning, who was gelded before Christmas, is a full brother to Seven Stars, who won her bumper for us at Hereford earlier this month, and there was a lot to like about his debut at Kempton He proved no match for Nicky Henderson’s classy debutant Prince Rupert, but Stars Aligned still showed enough promise to suggest that it won’t be long before he goes one better.

Similarly, Georgie Too made an encouraging first appearance in the junior bumper at Huntingdon yesterday, beating all but Olly Murphy’s French bumper winner Merry Wood.

Alan went one better on the same course, with the well-backed Kitty’s Glance showing the benefit of wind surgery, plus the fitting of a first-time hood, when winning the mares maiden hurdle, despite found to have broken a blood vessel afterwards.

Tom Bellamy, still on a high after riding his first Cheltenham Festival winner last week, confessed that he was “living the dream” as he dismounted from Kitty’s Glance.

He said:”Kitty’s Glance is a filly who we have always liked at home. She has run well in bumpers but ran a back-to-front race over hurdles here before Christmas. Another mare jumped into her at the first flight, causing her to get lit up and, having run her race after the first mile, she walked up the straight.

“However, the combination of wind surgery, the first-time hood and the extra distance meant that we could get Kitty relaxed at the back this time, and she has won well in the end, though I think there could be better things in store as this success will give her confidence a real boost.

“I like Kitty’s Glance and I’m delighted she has won for owners (Pitchall Stud Partnership) who have put so much into the sport and really deserve all the success that they get.”

We had hopes that Don’t Mind If I Do would defy his big weight when stepping up in distance for the two mile and five handicap hurdle at Ludlow today.

But, having been off the track for three and a half months, Don’t Mind If I Do, a horse Alan has always had a huge opinion of, lacked the sharpness that he has shown at home and had to be content with minor honours, having threatened briefly turning for home.