Fahey's Weekend Runners

Richard Fahey: Ladys bids to be First

Richard Fahey has news of his weekend runners and new recruits to the yard from Doncaster this week.

• 

1 / 2

Ladys First ): Bids to go one better 

I was very pleased with Supplicant's victory at Ripon on Monday. The step up to six furlongs and decent ground really helped him and at the moment we look to be heading towards the Mill Reef at Newbury.It's been a good few days for the team with plenty of winners, long may it continue!

It's been a busy week with the Premier Sales at Doncaster. We bought 15 but as always it was very tough to get all the horses you want. We just can't compete at the moment for the box-office top lots, but we did get some lovely horses and it's very exciting.

We'll soon be in the middle of the sales season and we'll continue to look to add to the string. You need people to buy them though - several at Doncaster were bought on spec so need owners, but it's a great time of the year.

Moving on to Saturday and I have to say El Viento has been a little disappointing. I feel he's capable of winning races off his current mark but we stick the visor back on for the Minstrell Recruitment Handicap at Chester and George Chaloner takes 5lb off his back. He has a decent draw but needs to bounce back to his best after a disappointing run last time. He is in good order at home though.

We run two in the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap. Alejandro's form got a real boost the other day while it was great to get Brae Hill's head back in front last time - albeit in a claimer. Both have good draws and could run well but on current form you'd have to say Alejandro was my best chance in a competitive race.

Ladys First returns to Sandown for the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Atalanta Stakes in which she was second last year. We've given her a good break after a very flat run on her last start and at her very best she'd have a chance. There are some improving fillies in there and it's a tough race but I'd be hopeful of a place - and she definitely deserves to win a race like this.

I really didn't expect Nemushka to get in the Betfred TV Levy Board Handicap, it was something of a tongue-in-cheek entry, but she's got in in there. I'm delighted she has too as she'd have a chance getting weight from the fillies at the top of the handicap. She has a nice draw and it wouldn't surprise me at all if she ran a very big race.

The Betfred Nursery is a difficult race to get an angle on in terms of form. There are so many unexposed horses in there. Miaplacidus is a horse who will get better with age but has had a good break since her last race. She's hardly thrown in here but is improving and I hope she has a chance of hitting the frame.

Back to Chester and hand on heart I have to say Mfiftythreedotcom has been disappointing. The owner comes from the city and was keen to run in the British Stallion Studs E.B.F. Maiden Stakes. It's a tough maiden and my fellow is up against it, especially as his draw is far from ideal.

Layla's Oasis hasn't been with us for long but has been quite busy. She's got to step up on what she's shown so far in the Controlled Solutions Handicap but at least she has a decent draw. That said I wouldn't be surprised to see her run a half-decent race but I'm just a little worried about her temperament.

We're backing Nashville up quite quickly in the Golden Square Warrington Handicap after he trotted up at Catterick. We weren't surprised he won there and the handicapper is likely to put him up by more than 6lb so Marwan was keen to come here. It's a better race than his last one but he's drawn very well and must have a big chance.

Over at Beverley Idle Warrior runs in the Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Maiden Stakes. He's a horse who has always worked well and ran okay on debut but was very disappointing next time. On form there's a couple in here he will struggle to beat and his draw isn't great, but I hope he runs well.

Hand on heart, I have to say Bahamamay has been frustrating. He works like an 80-plus horse at home but isn't running like one on the track. That said he'd have half a chance in the Stars Of The Future Apprentice Handicap. Eireann Cagney is a good young jockey who deserves more chances and I'm delighted to be able to put him on one with a squeak here.