I set off for Yarmouth with a fair degree of anticipation. I had been on the gallops that morning and more than one trainer (including William Haggas) who had the second favourite telling me that Radiance was the likely winner! Having heard this kind of banter on the gallops in the past I have learnt to take much of it with a pinch of salt, but there was no doubting George Boughey's enthusiasm!

Yarmouth is a lovely racecourse but a very awkward place to get to! You think it's going to be a short ride on from Newmarket but it's much further than that and the last 45 minutes on single track roads.

We had a good number of owners attending including a couple who decided to come last minute having been on the visit that morning, a very good decision as it turned out!! 

its always nerve racking when we have a first time out favourite as expectations are naturally sky high, and despite my best endeavours to "manage expectations', the group were bullish!

Radiance of course knew none of this and thankfully behaved well in the preliminaries (with the help of a red hood) and went down to post very well. Despite being slowly away and running green, she burst clear in the final furlong to win very impressively! Cue rapturous joy from the assembled owners and congratulations from Derek Thompson who was doing his very last day's commentary at Yarmouth and told the owners to not get over excited on the podium!

Cue also happy calls to owners not able to be there on the way home, always easier than after a poor run!! 

It was a lovely summers day and winning first time out it always very special. For one owner it represented a first runner with us, making the day even better.