A total of twenty eight Flat meetings in the UK last week, and some would say that there were a few too many. I would be in agreement and I am still waiting for the reduction in fixtures that the BHA have promised, considering there were only twenty meetings this time last year. A few big speed figures were noted last week, but surprisingly the two biggest ones were not recorded in the Group 1 races. The first one was achieved by Michael Dod’s Northern Express (117) in the Thirsk Hunt Cup and the second one by John Flint’s Time Interval (117) in a Class 2 Handicap at Goodwood over the extended 9f. It would have been nice to verify the latter’s, but alas the start of the race was not visible due to fog. Still a smashing performance from the son of Adaay racing from a handicap mark of just (82). It will also be interesting to see if Northern Express can build on this, as he could only manage the one win last year at York.

Both Guineas at Newmarket appeared to be well up to standard with Chaldean clocking (114) for the boys, and Mawj (113) for the girls. A main topic of conversation from the meeting should be the inability to accurately describe the going in advance of the start of the first race. Friday’s published advance going of Good (GFm) with a Going Stick reading of (7.8) wouldn’t have upset too many with the track riding just 7L per mile slow. However it was Saturday when the real trouble started. A published going of Good (7.0) at 8.30am was hastily changed to Good To Soft after the first race which was 21L slow per mile by my measurements, and eventually to Soft after Race 4. By the time Chaldean won the big race, the track was riding 30L per mile slow. While there was plenty of rain about on the day, the question should be why the track was watered on Thursday with rain forecast? I’m sure connections of Live In The Dream (112), who was collared late on in the Palace House Stakes by Vadream (113), might be wondering whether he may have held on without Mr Prosser’s desire to put that 4mm down on Thursday. Some food for thought there, no doubt.

Sunday provided another situation where the advertised going of Soft (5.5) at 8am didn’t match up with the winning times. When Race 1 won by Adayar came in at just 13L per mile slow, it was obvious that the ground had dried overnight, and we weren’t really still at Soft. The fact that the 1000 Guineas was won in a time almost 4 seconds faster than the previous day’s 2000 Guineas, told us that Mr Prosser had unknowingly put punters away again. I had the straight course just over 11L slower than standard by the end of the day, and it was a little disappointing that the Official going was never changed from Soft during the day. It has been mentioned before that a request for going readings closer to the start of the day’s racing has been put forward to the powers that be, but unfortunately nothing was changed. Following this years embarrassing situation, it should be obvious that the public are entitled and in need of, a going stick reading that is fresher than five hours old.

Mutasaabeq (113) took the Bet365 Group 2 Mile on Friday, while wearing blinkers for the second time. It will be interesting to see if he can record that elusive Group 1 victory going forward. Via Sistina (112) was mightily impressive in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes over 9f on Sunday by 6L, highlighting the talents of her young trainer George Boughey. The Prix De L’Opera on Arc Day looks to be her main target. It was nice to see Adayar (111) bounce back to form on his seasonal debut when taking the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes on Sunday, from an old friend of the column, Anmaat (109). A nice step towards winning another Group 1 for Charlie Appleby’s son of Frankel.

Away from Newmarket there were some decent figures on the clock recorded, starting with Spoof (112) at Ascot on Wednesday over the minimum trip. A remarkable performance from Kevin Frost’s gelding from a mark of just (84). The warning was there with his (111) at Yarmouth, when unlucky and  selected by this column. Kevin has worked wonders getting this lad back to his best since acquiring him from Charles Hills. Over at Gowran Park, Paddy Twomey’s filly Final Gesture (111) showed her trainer’s remarkable touch when winning the Vintage Tipple Listed Stakes over 14f. A 925,000 euro purchase out of French trainer HA Pantall’s yard, she had 5L to spare at the line and could easily get 2 miles going forward. It may have only been a Class 3 Handicap over 13f at Hamilton on Sunday, but Postileo (111) overcame a 562 day absence, and not getting a clear run when winning, to show that he may be more than just a handicapper.

My favourite one of the week is Sir Mark Todd’s 4-y-o colt Prophet’s Dream (111) winning a Class 5 Handicap at Bath on Good To Soft going, pulling a train at the finish. I hadn’t a penny on despite having noted him on his career debut last year putting up a decent time at Chelmsford. I had proceeded to back him at a huge price next time out at Salisbury and was thinking was this the same horse? It looks like ground conditions may be important as he ran no sort of race that day on Good to Firm. Exciting times ahead no doubt.

Till the next instalment be lucky!