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Monsieur Joe: Bids to follow up success at York’s May meeting
Monsieur Joe aims to secured his second York victory in little over a fortnight in a fiercely competitive renewal of the £50,000 BetBright Trophy on Saturday.
An excellent servant to leading sprint trainer Robert Cowell over the years, Monsieur Joe switched hands for 48,000 guineas last October and made his debut for North Yorkshire-based Paul Midgley at the Dubai Carnival, where he creditably in defeat.
After failing to make an impact in Lingfield’s Hever Sprint, the seven-year-old made a winning return to turf action with a 25-1 triumph on the Knavesmire a couple of weeks ago and Midgley hopes his charge is up to defying a hike in the weights.
Midgley said: “He has come out of his last race at York really well and is in good form. We have gone up 5lb and he will have to contend with a bit slower ground but I hope he will run well.
“Now he has gone up to 105, he is the highest-rated horse we’ve ever had. It’s excellent to have one that you can go to nice places like York with.
“He is very talented, very laid-back and very easy-going. He is genuinely nice.”
Monsieur Joe concedes weight to each of his 18 opponents over the flying five furlongs.
Tumblewind is an interesting contender for fellow Yorkshire-based trainer Richard Whitaker following a recent decisive victory at Thirsk.
Whitaker said: “She’s going to be running off her highest ever mark with a rating of 90 and whether she’s good enough to win off that, we’ll have to wait and see.
“She’s a very genuine filly and always gives her best. She’s hardly finished out of the first four since we’ve had her and virtually always runs her race.
“The ground won’t worry her and I’m sure we’ll get a good run. Whether that will be good enough to get in the money, only time will tell.
“It’s a handicap at the end of the day, so they’ve all got a chance.”
Robin Bastiman, best known for his handling of dual Nunthorpe winner Borderlescott, believes Singeur is in peak condition.
Bastiman said: “These races are a bit of a lottery, but our horse has been running consistently and steps back up in grade.
“He’s really well at home. I don’t think I could have him any better, to be honest. Whatever he does tomorrow is as good as he is.
“I don’t think the ground should be a problem and he was rated 100 at one time before he had a bit of joint trouble. He’s on 89 now, so we’re looking forward to running him.”
