THREE RUNNERS FOR ASCOT TODAY.

After a busy week at Bunbury where we had two runners for a winner of the Patrons Cup and a second in the Bunbury Cup, we return to Ascot today to once again do battle. On what looks like a fairly even yet difficult program, we have three runners in two races.

We start the day in race two with unraced 2yo gelding LORD AIRLIE. This horse is a big lump of a lad who has shown some worthwhile form in trials and in training. He gives every indication that whatever he does today he will improve greatly on and will also appreciate it when he steps out over more ground. His mother was a more than useful Sydney winner and I am confident that he will develop into a good winner for the stables.

In race seven The Natasha Plate, we are represented by two runners, SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE and BLACK HABIT. Both fillies are being aimed at the W.A.OAKS and at this stage I am happy with where they are at. SNOOKIE THE BOOKIE has had a few hiccups along the way and missing an important race at York last week has not helped her cause. Hopefully this race will see her come forward nicely for the Oaks.

My other runner BLACK HABIT is a filly by Blackfriars who has shown staying potential since day one. She too has had set backs along the way and if anything is a run behind where I would have liked her to be. We have increased her work to have her ready for today however there is no substitute for race fitness. Her run against the colts last week end was full of merit and I fully expect that she will have derived a lot of benefit from the run. If she can come through today's race unscathed I will be looking forward to the Oaks with some degree of excitement.

Happy punting!!