Kim Bailey has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, operating at an impressive 23% strike-rate. The trainer is certainly no stranger to success at the highest level, as he has trained winners in The Grand National, The Cheltenham Gold Cup and The Champion Hurdle.
Hoping to continue the positive start to the season, Bailey still has more firepower to come, with stable star First Flow set to make his seasonal re-appearance in the coming weeks.
The pinnacle of his career came at Ascot, as he won the grade 1 Clarence House in scintillating fashion. This veteran is not getting any younger, but he is full of talent and will be a dangerous force if he produces his best.
Bailey said: “He goes to Exeter in two weeks’ time, he seems fine, he’s 11 years old now, he wants to do what he wants to do, he might just stand at the start and look at the race rather than run in it! But he’s in a good place and I’m happy with him.”
Another stable star who will be re-appearing in the coming weeks is Fleur De Lys winner Two for Gold. The 10-Year-old has enjoyed a lot of success in recent seasons, thriving in veterans’ handicaps. He has been a fabulous horse for connections, giving them a spin in the Topham chase and the Grand National!
“He goes to Ascot next Saturday, it’s annoying because he’s gone up three lbs, which means he’s not eligible for veterans’ races anymore. But he runs in a £100,000 handicap next week but is probably not good enough.
“He’s been a brilliant horse for connections and his ultimate aim will be the veterans chase at Sandown.”
One horse that will not be seen for a while is Jewson Handicap Chase winner Does he Know, who has not been seen since finishing third in the Denman Chase back in April.
“He’s having a quiet time at the moment, and unfortunately you won’t see him till the second half of the season.”
One of the most notable performances of the season was Chianti Classico’s chase debut at Chepstow a fortnight ago. He enjoyed a fruitful campaign last season, winning three races over hurdles before coming up short in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.
Bailey said: “He’s not very big, and we were very keen to drop him out and get him travelling. He jumped the first two quite big but settled into it after that. He won very nicely, he’s a lovely horse, and has won races every season, but he’s going to be a hard horse to win with again as he’s now on a mark of 141. He’ll head to Ascot at the end of November.”
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