What a glorious morning on the mile grass gallop at Barbury

October 29

It is 35 years tomorrow that Lingfield staged the UK’S first all-weather raceday, Newmarket’s initial mile-long Al Bahathri gallop having been installed four years earlier.

Nowadays trainers would not be able to operate without access to an artificial surface, but most would agree that there is no substitute for turf, and, if horses could talk, I am sure that they would also give the thumbs up, confirming that they preferred being able to stretch out on a grass gallop.

However, the British weather restricts trainers to how often they can use the grass, so on an uncharacteristically mild late October morning, it was a pleasure to join Alan and his assistant Rob Smith on the eight-furlong stretch of grass for second lot at Barbury yesterday.

First up the gallop and going solo was Westerton, who has always been a good worker at home but really seemed to point his toe and grab hold of the rain-softened ground as he powered past us in impressive fashion.

Alan plans to send Westerton up the same gallop on Saturday, and, having doubtless needed his hurdling debut at Stratford three weeks ago, his first appearance on the track since June, the four-year-old, who is entered at both Huntingdon and Hereford next week, will be even sharper for this blow-out.

Next up in a group of four came another useful Flat-racer in Paradias, who settled well in front and remains a possible for the November Handicap at Doncaster’s final meeting if the rain steers clear of Town Moor over the next 10 days.

Only a nose prevented the versatile Paradias from finishing in the frame the last time he tackled a mile and a half in a Heritage Handicap at York’s Ebor meeting last year, and as he has won over two miles over hurdles at Lingfield, stepping back up to 12 furlongs on the level should not be a problem.

With Trueshan‘s gallant third in the Prix de Royal-Oak in France on Sunday sandwiched between winners for Barbury on Saturday and Monday, the team look in fine fettle, including the smart Edwardstone, who has been pencilled in for the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on November 15.

At Prestbury Park, Edwardstone could well come up against his old-rival Jonbon, the latter having finished in front on the three occasions they have met previously.