WINTERWATCH SEALS SUCCESS AT KEMPTON ON THE FLAT

Winterwatch showed the benefit of wind surgery with a pleasing victory on the all weather at Kempton on Wednesday evening off a mark of 79.He didn’t take to hurdling quite as well as we hoped last winter though there was some improvement the last time at Taunton where he kept on nicely to finish second.

We identified an issue with his breathing and he has certainly been a happier horse since a wind op. So it was highly encouraging to see Winterwatch travel comfortably at Kempton before easing into the lead one and a half furlongs out and drawing clear to win by three and three quarter lengths from Mukha Magic. He ground it out well and stayed on stoutly to the line.

I was hoping the run at Kempton would tee up Winterwatch for a valuable amateur riders’ flat race on the opening day of the Galway Festival and that remains the plan where he will be ridden by my sister in law Aine Madden.

We’ve had runners finish third in that contest on two occasions so it would be nice to go back and try to win it this time.
It’s likely Winterwatch will return to hurdles this winter and we also have the option of the final of the London Stayers’ series at Kempton in December.

Link to replay – https://bit.ly/3nuRFWg