The above headline is simply another way of saying we got it wrong !!
Questions and doubts were soon raised after it became apparent that Delusion, off 142 at the time of entry, became the top rated horse and would be carrying top weight of 11st 12lbs in what was a 0 – 150 handicap.
The expectation with £50k total prize money up for grabs, was that the big Southern yards would send one or two of their 145 to 150 rated animals which would have enabled us to race off around 11st 7lbs.
IT DID NOT HAPPEN
Nevertheless we declared him to run.
Come flag fall, it was expected that, even with top weight, our fella would be making a bold effort from the front.
IT DIDN`T HAPPEN
Delusion knows only one way of racing….from the front. Sitting behind the front runners being held up just did not work for him. Watching Delusion pulling Henry Brookes arms out as the jockey tried to restrain him in order to get the trip, the jockeys tactics did not help.
That is in no way meant to be an excuse / reason for defeat, because he was never going to defy his welter burden over an untried extreme distance of 4ml 1f……
IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN
So all things considered, it is reasonable to accept that he ran well to finish 5th in the wrong race.
There were other pointers taken into consideration before minds were made up to go to Musselburgh, for which I want my a**e kicking.
Too late to dwell on these, so instead….older and wiser, lets put a line under events at Musselburgh, and move on.
I have prepared a list of options to be considered for Delusion from now until the end of the season, which I will be discussing with the management at Craiglands Farm in the very near future.
The Grand National is on the list.
