Anglican has summered well & looks strong. We are really looking forward to getting properly stated with him.

6^th March 2008 Langholm Novices' Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+) 12 hdles 3m1f Carlisle 

Anglican ran here and was disappointing. He settled ok and once again hurdled well enough but he was struggling at halfway and was sensibly pulled up. It seems likely that the horse was campaigned hard in France and is in need of a break. Certainly he had races in every month in 2007 and that sort of campaign, along with a change of country, yard and routine may have been too much to ask of him. The situation does bear some resemblance to that surrounding the only other horse that we have taken from France in mid season; Kalmo Bay. He arrived over here and turned in 3 moderate efforts before being given the summer break. On his return and with a full “Murphy pre season preparation” under his belt he has won twice this season and looks a progressive horse.

Anglican is being wound down slowly at the yard and once better weather arrives, will be turned out for the summer. He will return in July/Aug time for roadwork and then proper pre season. He will most likely then be sent handicap chasing for us.

Anglican was 5^th on his UK debut…which whilst not the end of the world was a little below the level that we had hoped he would perform to. You will have gathered from my pre race message at the course that ground was very quick for him…I walked it before racing and the far straight was particularly dry. We had hoped that his class would allow him to perform on it but he wasn’t that comfortable on it. Graham certainly felt that he was outpaced on ground that he hated. Having said all of that, he ran on to the line and finished 5^th. He will improve upon that no doubt.