Even us experienced trainers make mistakes my 2 sprinters were not guaranteed a run at Meydan
because of there low rating now they are rated too high for handicaps

The problem is the H'cappers got her now, she went up 33 pounds.

owey

My world hurdle horse is rated 85. I should be able to pick up a race with her before the handicapper hammers her

I think that's spot on, the group 1 horses should be around 150-160 because it stops them from running in the H'caps.

Two words to describe my season so far - Third and bad. I'm too highly rated for handicaps and not good enough for stakes races. Still I am managing to pay the bills.

Well a real thrill for me on the first day with my horse Du Andiamo running a short head second with five horses stretched across the track on the line!
Probably a good thing I wasn't calling that race
Not a winner but it still feels good for me

Well done Doug. This is what the league is all about, I remember when I got very excited with a 4th during my first season

NH

Tuvalu did well to finish 6th under a big weight in the Silver Trophy.

Overall, it was a poor day and it looks like it's going to be a long season

FLAT

Only 3 runners today with the highlight being an 8th for Syria in the first. Dilalil.....

Congrats to Steve on your 1000 Guineas victory

Thanks to all running the races. Doug, I did enjoy your comment about Swiss Roll

I hope you had a laugh

Flat -
R2 Death Rattle - WON - Wow, last week was good but this was better, shouldering a big weight, 4/5 wide on every turn and still getting up. I feel bad for poor old Doug nicking his first win off him . If it makes you feel any better I've trained a lot of good stayers since SO3 and this is the best 2 miler I've ever had so yours must be pretty handy as well! All roads lead to Flemington now and won't be seen very often.

R3 - Kizzire (7th) - Very disappointing from the favourite, wide the whole way and didn't have the speed to go with them, back up to a mile next time.
R4 - Swift Picura (10th) - Another disappointment weakening towards the end, looks like 1m3f is his trip.

Just the 3 for me over the flat today, Death Rattle's win has made the week for me though! Looking forward to some of my handicap runners over the next 2 days.

NHC -

Might just sack the jumps off altogether! Winston improved a little in R2, Coast was probably my best run when 7th in R3 as he wasn't far away at all. Juppy improved slightly in the Pertemps Qualifier, Ethiopia needs to go back to 2m6, Robotnik was my best chance but she hit the deck. Not good at all.

Congrats all Winners and Placers especially those getting off the mark this season! Hopefully the handicaps will help people get their first wins in the NHC apart from PJ's which pulled my pants down and will get swiftly punished

Handicap Ratings for the 1st lot of NHC Races are updated in TOM.

Great commentaries for the races. I really enjoyed how Shape Up was called home. Really happy with my day, Shape Up winning the Group 3 and the way she did was really exciting, the commentary really enhanced the race for me.

Waterloo Sunset is a great prospect, winning well in the Persian War. I have great options with her as she has placed from 2m3 to 3m and is equally good over hurdles and fences.

Season is going well , considering how few seasons I have played the game.

Congrats to all the winners

UKRA
Just 2 runners today with Magic Marker managing to beat 1 home in race 8 which is an improvement on last week and Poster Art finished mid division in the sprint handicap in the last.

NHRA
Mugshot who is from either my first or second ever SO6 crop of homebreds was a clear highlight for my stable in race 8 battling on well to get up in the closing stages. Lady Big struggled under a big weight in the Pertemps qualifier, Candlekeep didn't see out the 2m4f in the Persian War and Raffles was a disappointment in the 2m novice chase at Cheltenham. All of my other runners fell or unseated.

Thanks to Doug for the comms and well done to all winners and placers.

Death Rattle won well - it really was a grinding exciting finish - I think my horse had his nose in front for a nano second but yours just knew where the post was