Hugo Palmer: I do hope stepping up to a mile and a half will suit him
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Top trainer and Coral ambassador Hugo Palmer discusses his Saturday runners at Newbury and Newmarket.
He took a nice step forward when getting off the mark at Nottingham a few starts ago, but he ran a strange race when finishing fourth at Newmarket last time. He was the first one off the bridle, but his last furlong was his best, and he stayed on really well to the line suggesting this step up in trip would really suit him. He does look like a big powerful staying horse, so I do hope stepping up to a mile and a half will suit him here.
It’s a bigger field than I thought it would be, but I’m glad as it should ensure a decent pace for him to aim at. We had to make the running at Newmarket last time which wasn’t ideal, but hopefully something will take us along here, and I suspect the likely good ground will be perfect for him too.
We have got another rotten draw in stall 14, but he’s been pleasing us at home lately, and I’m hopeful that he can confirm the promise he showed when winning at Nottingham a few starts back.
Victoria Falls suffers from her own consistency really as she always gives her running and never really runs a bad race. It’s great when you get these horses who continually perform well, but it does mean you don’t quite get the respite from the handicapper as much as you’d like.
I do think the stiff finish at Newmarket will be absolutely ideal, and she’s versatile with regards to ground, so hopefully we can get some cover, she’ll get a nice pace to aim at, and we can finish strongly up that hill.
It’s very frustrating we haven’t managed to win on turf with her yet, but she’s been in good form at home, and she looks really well in her coat at the moment, so hopefully it will all fall right for her this weekend.
Hugo
