Our racing correspondent Winterbourne Longjohns bids us farewell for the summer with this valedictory piece on prospects for the 2000 and 1000 Guineas on Saturday and Sunday, and races at Punchestown and Sandown.
Winterborne Longjohns will shortly be handing over this racing column to Swinley Bottom who is feeling quietly optimistic about the chances of Aidan O Brian’s Australia in next Saturdays 2000 Guineas. His contacts at Coolmore and at Ladbroke’s describe the horse as ‘a cast iron each way bet’ so ever cautious Swinley has acted accordingly. He has also and somewhat earlier backed Clive Brittain’s Rizeena at 8/1 and Lucky Kristale at 14/1 for the following days 1000 Guineas.
But back to Winterborne for the time being. Harry Fry’s strike rate on which so much relies has certainly slowed up over the past month with but two winners from seventeen stable chances. However Harry’s entries at Punchestown should be worth more than just a passing glance while Opening Batsman might provide his sporting connections with some compensation for a hitherto disappointing season if he runs in the Gold Cup at Sandown tomorrow