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The latest news from the Club

Quiet time for Club runners, with spring finally on the way!

12 April 2018

Plenty of Club horses are currently waiting for decent ground before they can run again, following one of the wettest winters we can remember. Only soft and heavy ground has been available throughout the entire winter, so next week's forecast of a dry week with temperatures in the high teens is very exciting. This could allow some of our Flat horses to revert to turf racing from the all-weather, and for our small jumping string to have a chance of running on decent ground.

One who relishes soft ground is the recent winner, Harmonica, who gave Gavin Ashton his first winner in his second race in public. The Club was delighted to provide Gavin with this milestone win and he has certainly made himself very popular with the Members! Unfortunately, Harmonica was beaten at odds-on a few days later, but she has since been freshened up by Sir Mark Prescott, who could now aim for her a continental Listed race, in order to boost her profile as a broodmare, when she retires from racing.

Harmonica's half sister, Zest, finished fourth in the Fillies' and Mares' contest on Al-Weather Championships day at Lingfield, which was run in driving rain. The daughter of Affinity stayed on like a train in the latter stages of the race, but found dropping back from a mile to seven furlongs one step too far on this occasion. She has been covered by Oasis Dream already this season and the aim is for her to either run once more for master trainer, James Fanshawe, or to go straight to stud to join the Breeding Programme.

Other horses who could return to the turf include Bardd, who could return to hurdling after winning and being placed on the all-weather this winter, including when third at Wolverhampton last week. He could return to hurdles shortly for the champion trainer, Nicky Henderson. Star hurdler, Elgin, has no opportunities over hurdles, so could revert to the Flat, as trainer Alan King says he works as though he could excel in that sphere. He comes from a good family, so we look forward to that prospect in the coming months.

Group 1 winner Marsha's half-sister, Marseille, is waiting for good ground on turf after blowing away the cobwebs at Newcastle recently, and should be improved by a straight five furlongs on turf. She won a maiden last season before a string of placed efforts and could be another to go well this season for the Julie Camacho team.

All in all, there is plenty to look forward to this season for all Club Members!