Miss Tongabezi wins in great style at Ludlow

MISS TONGABEZI and Fergus Gregory doubled their career victories with a very stylish win at Ludlow last Thursday. We were concerned about the softer ground and Fergus steered a wider course to avoid the worst of it, before staying on very easily to win by 10 lengths.

There is not much of “Tonga”, indeed her racing weight is just 435kgs, but every atom of her make-up is about trying her very best and she is an extremely accurate jumper.

As I wrote after her win on Boxing Day (see ‘News’ page, 8th Jan) her grandmother Auntie Dot was the last mare to be placed in The Grand National and if only “Tonga” four inches tall she would have been Aintree-bound one day! By putting her up another 10lbs to 123, the handicapper has determine that she heads for a big step up in grade by going to the E.B.F. Mares’ Novice Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on 25th March. She is a small filly but with a massive heart and hopefully Fergus’ 10lbs claim can ease her burden once again.

Red Cossack had no chance once he was busseled up to the front from the stalls at Lingfield last time and would hope that he will run his usual consistent sort of race around Kempton on Wednesday night. He is in good form and Georgia Cox has managed difficult characters for us in the past!

Breath Of Blighty, Hollo Way and Orchard Boy are all ready to run this week, but the ground is taking a long time to dry at the moment and we have to be patient.