William poised for a busy few days

AS the new flat turf season approaches the team at Phantom House are becoming increasingly busier.  

William Jarvis is slowly upping the work for his horses and this week he sends out a trio of runners on the all-weather.

He is hopeful that Monaco Dream, a four-year old by Hawk Wing, can finally get her head in front when she tackles a nine furlong handicap at Wolverhampton on Friday.

William said: “I still feel that she’s in the grip of the handicapper but I felt she didn’t really stay last time and the nine furlongs should suit her better.

“She’s in good form and hopefully can get her head in front.”

William is also looking forward to watching Eywa run in a maiden at Lingfield on Saturday.

The daughter of Mark of Esteem made an eye-catching debut last month and her trainer is hopeful that she has come on for that experience.

He added: “I was very encouraged by her first run as she finished her race strongly. The form from that race is turning out well and fingers crossed she will step up and run well.”

Kilkenny Bay will make her seasonal bow in a mile handicap at Wolverhampton on Thursday.

It will be her first start since May last year but William is hopeful that she can run well in the hands of the leading all-weather rider, Joe Fanning.

William also had news this morning on the upwardly mobile, Rock A Doodle Doo.

The son of Oratorio, a three time winner over the winter, will be given an entry in a handicap at Doncaster on 28 March.

He said: “He seems very well and is pleasing me at home. We are keeping our options open but he could well line up at Doncaster where I hope he can transfer his good form on the all-weather back onto the turf.”

However, flat racing will be overshadowed this week by the Cheltenham Festival which starts this afternoon.

William will be watching the action unfold from the comfort of his sitting room.

He said: “I look forward to watching Cheltenham on the television as I am not going myself. It is four days of great racing and although tipping is not always my strong point I do have a few.

“I like Starluck each way in the Champion Hurdle this afternoon and although I don’t think Tricky Trickster is any where near good enough to beat the mighty Kauto Star, I do think he is a good place shot at around 16/1.

“Another horse I have been following all winter is Diamond Harry. He will have it all to do to beat Nicky Henderson’s duo in the RSA Chase but I can certainly see him running a big race.”