Beaten

Poor ol' Beat The Boarder (pictured, courtesy the Sunday TC) just cannot get a break - days and days of dry weather, and ten minutes before she races, it pours down!

All things considered, her fifth was a super result, and just a little luck should see her back in the top three - Shun-kun let her go, and while she fell back a touch on the third corner, the tiddler fought back strongly to pass the post just 0.4 seconds adrift of the winner.

LIR Progress

Courtesy Lord Ilsley Racing

Gandvik (seen here on the right) came good last night, finishing a gallant fighting fifth in a field of strong (and expensive!) horses in his second outing - a "remarkable improvement" compared to his debut, and proof that he's one to look out for in the future. The next race should be really exciting - it looks like it will be the 2:40 at Haydock on the 6th...

Meanwhile, we've got Beat The Boarder tonight at TCK, War Chronicle in the 1800m turf race at Niigata with Tosaki-kun on the 1st August, Tenshinramman in a 2000m version at the same track on the following day (Ebina-san in the saddle on what could be Tenny's last outing), and Eclat De Reve and Kawada-san teaming up for the 1800m turf race at Kokura on the 2nd - the same day as Masterson takes to the track in England. A few days later, Trovao comes out the box for a second outing at Monbetsu on the 5th in a 1200m dirt run, and Rush Attack is lined up for Sapporo on the 8th with Kosei Miura for a 2000m turf race. Further ahead again, Raining Dollars should run in Australia on the 15th August.

Let's See What Happens

Courtesy Sunday TC

Raining Dollars was a good, strong second in Australia over the weekend, although Pop Label (pictured) was a touch disappointing tonight. He was really looking good all the way around until the final straight, when he just failed to ignite. Honda-kun did a good job with him, however, and it would be fun to see him have another go one day, after Pop's had a spell of R&R...

Beat The Boarder runs at TCK the day after tomorrow, along with Gandvik (teamed up with John Egan) in England today. Also, Masterson has been pencilled in for the 2:00 at Chepstow on the 2nd August, with Charlie Bishop at the controls, while Brighton on the 6th has been booked as a back-up.