Passing Reflection is interesting in tomorrow’s Newbury finale

March 2

It looks like a busy week-end for Barbury, though with proper rain in the Newbury area but a distant memory it is no surprise that Alan has opted out of running Messire des Obeaux in the feature Greatwood Gold Cup on our local course on Saturday.

Alan had also contemplated running two full-sisters on Friday, but, while Passing Reflection does take her chance at Newbury off a mark of 107 in her first handicap – “she has been crying out for this step up in trip and she only has three opponents”, observed Alan, who has not declared Pass The Love On at Doncaster, though she could be a possible for Huntingdon on Sunday. She made a pleasing return after a 14 months absence when fifth at Wetherby.

Doubtless, Alan will be back at Newbury on Saturday, where we have three runners.

Alan added:”Ideally, I’d like to find a two miles and six hurdle for Jay Bee Why, but there aren’t many about so we are dropping him to two and a half here. He was a good third over three miles on this track last month, but he got to the end of his tether in the last 150 yards, so we are coming down in trip.

“Of our other two runners there, Forget The Way is gradually improving, so will, hopefully, step up on his Southwell third, while Irish Chorus is a promising four-year-old out of that Listed winning mare of Nicky Henderson’s, Mayfair Music, and she is ready to start off in the bumper.”

North of the border we have Tritonic  running in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.

Alan said:”Tritonic has been working well at home, and he ought to be better suited by this race on a slower surface than he was the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month. He was always in top gear on quick ground that day.
“We also have a couple going off to Doncaster. Broomhill Road is another of our young bumper horses. He’s a lovely big horse and will be good to get him started, too.

“Thunder Ahead made no show at Warwick and maybe keeps a bit for himself, so we are trying him in cheekpieces, which he wore when he won on the Flat for Harry Dunlop.”

Finally, we have Fast Forward running at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening. He ran well when a close fourth over a mile and a half there last month, and we are now trying him over a mile and six.”