Hugo Palmer Friday runners blog: 'I am looking forward to running him'

Leading trainer Hugo Palmer shares his Friday runners blog with Coral readers in the midst of a big few days of horse racing.

I thought he ran a much better race in the Northumberland Plate, but his stamina just let him down. He travelled looking like the winner but didn’t quite get home. We’ve dropped him down a couple of furlongs here, and this trip will suit him nicely. He has been working nicely at home, and I am looking forward to running him in what is a competitive heritage handicap contest.

She ran well on debut, and then at Redcar, she was on the wrong side of the course. I think stepping up 7f at Chester will help her. This is only a small field, and she will be getting weight from all four rivals. We will be hoping to see her take another step forward.

She hasn’t been given any favours by the draw, but she was sharp into stride on debut at Pontefract. I think she has come on for that run. She looks a much stronger filly now. If she can get into a nice position early in the race, I should think she will be in the mix at the finish.

We have passed up on small-field opportunities at Ascot and Newmarket to go back to Chester, where he is a C&D winner. I feel like we have finally got to the bottom of this horse now that he has been gelded. The draw in stall five is fine. I am hopeful he can go in again.

Both horses have been given good draws. With Grey Cuban, we will just have to wait to see what the ground ends up being before we decide if he will run. I think they will water the course, but it is going to be very fast. 

Patagonia Girl is an improving filly, and I have always liked her. I think Grey Cuban may struggle to beat her on this ground, but he has local owners, and they enjoy a runner at Chester. That said, if it ends up too firm, we will have to scratch him.

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