Stand by for another guff-fest from Ed “Woke” Chamberlain, where he waxes lyrical about the fact that A WOMAN is the Chairman of York Racecourse – the first in the history of The Knavesmire. “Extraordinary”. “What A Moment”. “The Glass Ceiling….” “Another step forward in equalising blah blah blah.” I am not such a royalist that I believe HM is sacrosanct from mortality, but I do pray to God that her eventual passing is not covered in any way by Ed. “Extraordinary” “A Queen”. “Who would have thought, has served her country despite….. ” That’s the rub with Ed. If you listen carefully his outpourings are so intentionally designed not to offend, that he insists on putting a qualifier into almost every statement of success, in case someone disagrees. “Rachel Blackmore, extraordinary, the first, despite,”
For clarity, Ed, Bridget Guerin was the daughter of John Cleverly, the hugely respected CEO and Clerk at Beverleywho also ran Redcar, Thirsk and Sedgefield. He sadly died in July last year, and I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times when managing some Yorkshire sponsorships, back in the late 90s. Bridget inherited his interest in and love of racing and her earliest memories include her and her brothers shovelling cow dung off Westwood common land, in order for racing to take place. She, (together with many other women), had a hugely successful City career at Schroders and then as MD at Matrix Money Management – and I’m guessing, did alright – despite…
She’s been a steward for at least 20 years at Ripon, Thirsk and Beverley, and still sits on the board of Beverley. She became the York Chairman in January, taking over from Teddy Grimthorpe, having sat on the York Racecourse Committee for I think six years or so. She is talked about as a natural leader and has already been seen helping William Darby and the rest of her team, doing maintenance and development on some of the buildings, during the lockdown. Best of all, she is a traditionalist. “I’m the Chairman of York and I’m proud of that.” I hope that they all have a cracking meeting and that DCMS wake up and realise that Racecourses need people to come racing if they are to continue providing employment for tens of thousands of people.
Here are today’s TV racing tips, despite…
I’m guessing the ground was already sticky before the 7mm of rain York had last night. It is now G/S, but it will have a good covering of fresh grass
1:40 YORK Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Hcap Cl2 (4yo+) 1m4f 15 run
I think MR CARPENTER will take advantage of his low weight and his improvement with Tim Easterby and his liking for York and the ground give me hope. I have a sneaking regard for RAYMOND TUSK who looks like a big e/w player, especially bearing in mind that he was beaten some 9l by Sir Ron Priestley in a 14f Listed who has since won a G2 at HQ.
MR CARPENTER e/w – RAYMOND TUSK e/w
2:10 YORK Churchill Tyres Hcap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 6f 18 run
ABERAMA GIRL won the Rockingham at 2 and could win this from the front in a race where the pace might be muddling. MAGICAL SPIRIT was 4th in the Coral Sprint Trophy over C&D in October and has had a decent prep race, so will be race-ready. STAXTON is another Easterby possible, having won LTO and this looks like a canny piece of placing.
ABERAMA GIRL – MAGICAL SPIRIT – STAXTON all e/w and a ¼pt CFC
2:40 YORK Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (G2) (3yo+) 6f 12 run
Again I’m looking at another Easterby runner, ART POWER who showed real promise winning his first three races last season, ending in a rattle in the G3 Lacken Stakes at Naas. He was 4th in the Champion Sprint in October, beaten less than 2l, far and away the best 3yo performer in the race. I also quite fancy SUMMERGHAND who is bidding for a hat-trick and who has had 12 wins over the distance and has beaten OXTED recently in the G3 Abernant Stakes. I think that’s form that is entirely commensurate for his price in a G2 in which he must have a chance.
ART POWER Win – SUMMERGHAND e/w
3:10 YORK Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (G3) (3yo) 1m2½f 8 run
SENITA wears a hood for the first time and will I think go close, but may still be pipped by Stoutey’s NOON STAR. On her seasonal debut, she dismissed Sherbert Lemon, the winner of Lingfield’s Oaks Trial winner LTO and is probably still improving.
NOON STAR Win
3:40 YORK Sky Bet Hcap Cl3 (3yo 0-95) 7f 12 run
Two for me her – HUDDLETON MAC who was an easy winner at Sandown before getting over-exhuberant in the The Greenham on return Huddleton Mac – and WOBWOBWOB whos is stepping up in class here, but I think has been underestimated by the handicapper. 5th at Wolverhampton – but blocked in his home run – then 3rd in the Craven beaten by two now rated 93. Dropping back to seven and on this ground gives him a good shot.
HUDDLETON MAC Win – WOBWOBWOB e/w