Managers thoughts - One Runner Today

Just the one runner for Ursa Major Racing today, but one we’re looking forward to seeing. Carolus Magnus takes his place in the 7:40 at Thirsk, with Joanna Mason back in the saddle for the Mick and David Easterby team. Joanna knows him well, and it’s always a plus to have that familiarity in the jockey’s mind going into a race.

On paper, this looks like a nice each-way opportunity. The market leader did win well on its last outing, but to repeat that would require a career-best performance, so the door is open for others to get involved. Carolus shaped up well last time out — he travelled nicely but just went a bit too quick early on, which meant he didn’t quite have enough left in the final furlong. If we can get him to settle a touch better today, I’m confident we’ll see him finish strongly.

The ground and trip should suit, and with a sensible pace, I think we’ve got a genuine chance of being right in the mix at the finish. A top-three placing is certainly realistic, and with a bit of luck in running, who knows — we could be in for an even better result.

Best of luck to all our owners and connections today. This is the calm before the storm as we head into a busy weekend with several horses in action, so keep an eye on our social media channels for updates and behind-the-scenes news.