We are flying in July – fingers crossed for more celebrations at Uttoxeter tomorrow

July 8

Five winners in the first week of July and only one of our 13 runners have finished out of the frame. Things are certainly going well at Barbury, and here’s hoping either Royal Pretender or Theonlywayiswessex can continue the good run at Uttoxeter’s evening meeting on Tuesday.

Tom Cannon was impressed with Theonlywayiswessex when they clicked at the third time of asking over fences at Stratford last month. He said:”Theonlywayiswessex was second a couple of times over hurdles, but he always looked as if he had the potential to make a chaser. He has run a couple of good races at Stratford and jumps well, and he is a good fun horse for the owners (Marsh, Kelly, Meacham, Davies and Mordaunt).”

Cannon was hoping that the handicapper would not be too hard on Theonlywayiswessex, but the six-year-old ut nine and a half lengths between himself and the chasing pack going to the last, so it is perhaps no surprise that he now has to try and defy a 9lb higher mark.

Royal Pretender finished third on the Staffordshire course last month, but he only began to tire from the last and, having been dropped another 3lb, he ought to be competitive again.