Juliette's weekly frolic
Well it was nice to be solvent, even for only a week. Surveying the scene from the black side of the balance sheet, anything seems possible. Why, given another fortnight and Lady Bountiful would even have graciously handed back the £100 loan to Mr Davenport and friends, Now they must wait a while longer, until I have mustered enough loose change to play a Derby market that is currently baffling the most expert but has yet to ensnare me.
Keeping with the classics for the moment, the leading bookmakers appear so intent on wringing every last coin from their ante-post clients over the Derby, that until Ladbrokes broke the ice on Wednesday, no one had even bothered to advertise prices for the Irish Guineas. Despite this lack of enthusiasm, England is sending over a strong contingent for Saturday's ' 2000,' headed by Pitskelly, Sharp Edge, Midsummer Star and Chamozzle, The last named came from a long way back to take third place to Gospill Hill in the Blue Riband Trial and as Mr Roy Strudwick paid a small fortune for him, the colt will obviously be all keyed up for Saturday's mission — his only classic engagement. Nevertheless, after Sharp Edge's handsome contrihution to my personal pocket money in the Newmarket Guineas, I feel it would be churlish to desert him now.
Back in Britain, it's about time the long-forgotten winter sport re ceived some recognition from this column. Sponsors, like the press, tend to fall away once the flat has taken the stage, so all credit to Stratford and Skefco Ball Bearings for staging the first running of the SKF Hurdle for Future Champions on Friday evening. The versatile team of hurdlers in David Barons's care tend to find themselves running on the flat with his wife on board for much of the summer, and stable star, Perambulate, is already earmarked for one of these events. First things first though, and on Friday the gelding aims to add to the £4,495 he recently picked up at Newbury in more conventional fashion.
There have been five dual winners of Kempton's ' Great Jubilee ' Handicap since the last war, so there is no statistical reason why that gallant old grey, Grandrew, shouldn't make it six in Saturday's renewal — only increasing age, weight and tougher opposition stand in his way. Roy Bridge ran fourth to Scottish Rifle at Newmarket and since all those in front, and several behind, have won good races since, he is justifiably sharing favouritism with his Cambridgeshire conqueror, Negus. The latter is 17Ib better off now and though only third in the City and Suburban, was appearing for the first time and left himself a lot to do in the closing stages. With two greys and a front-running black, there should be no difficulty in following the fortunes of this trio, even if they fail to make mine. Assets: £96.78. Outlay £3 to win Sharp Edge, Perambulate and Negus.
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