Flying start bodes well as optimism for season is high
| Published date | 07 April 2021 |
"We haven't done too much with the youngsters yet, but with Chipotle winning first time out in such authoritative style I'm obviously greatly encouraged."
There are also a healthy number of older horses to help keep the winners coming in, including Accidental Agent. Eve believes she has sorted out a couple of issues with her Queen Anne Stakes winner and is looking forward to another day out at Royal Ascot with him in either the Hunt Cup or possibly the Queen Anne.
She is also keen to see racegoers back on track. "Won't it be great to have people on course again in the summer?" she says. "I
remember 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket last year, it was one of the bleakest I have ever been to. It was like a nuclear apocalypse. It has improved since but we just need to get the public back in and hopefully by the summer we can start to see that again."
Followers of the Blewbury-based handler will know that her horses at Sandown are well worth following as over the past five years a £1 level stake has yielded a £50.83 profit. Add that to the likes of Chepstow £25.59, Newbury £23.38 and Redcar £21 and there is money to be made keeping an eye on Johnson Houghton runners at these venues in particular.
Older horses Accidental Agent 7 b g Delegator - Roodle He is a real favourite in the yard for obvious
reasons, having won the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot three years ago. Those memories we will all cherish for ever. He has not been in the best of form the last two seasons but we have hopefully sorted out a few problems, including a wind operation. He is seven now so the joins are getting older but he is in very good shape and I could not be happier with his wellbeing at the moment. I think this year we will probably aim at either the Royal Hunt Cup or Queen Anne again as he adores it around Ascot. We could have a run beforehand, depending on the programme book, but I would not be afraid of sending him to the royal meeting first time out. He is in very good form with himself.
Gambon 5 b g Dutch Art - Guajara He is a real soft-ground horse, and of course it has all dried out now. He won three times last year and starts the new campaign on a mark of 78, which looks pretty fair. Basically he needs everything to fall right, as he can find ways to lose a race as well as win. He is definitely not ungenuine but when the gaps appear he needs time to go through them as he does not possess an electric turn of foot, as it takes him a while to organise himself. He can win again.
Gin Palace 5 b g Swiss Spirit - Regal Curtsy This homebred son of Swiss Spirit has given his owners so much pleasure, notably last season when winning back-to-back handicaps at Newbury and Newmarket. He is working nicely at home and the plan is to start off in the Spring
Mile at Newbury later this month. He is a little stronger this year and hopefully can be competitive off 89...
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