Knight Of Noir won easily, Sam Drinkwater has always maintained we would see a special horse on top of the ground and he was right. I have only been able to work him on soft this winter. Although he's always shown us plenty he certainly impressed us today. Sam Waley Cohen still had him on a very tight rein crossing the finishing line. My immediate thoughts were for Sam who we forced to sit Easter out through injury. Virtuoso Rouge came up against a very special horse of Richard Barbers named Urban Hymn. Mr Barber told me he was their best horse by a long shot and the owner had paid a lot of money for him out of France. Our lad served it up to him 4 out, the pair of them were flat to the boards when Virtuoso Rouge fell 3 out. They were a long way clear of the others and on any other day he'd have won convincingly as he wouldn't have got racing so soon. Once I'd seen horse and rider get up my thoughts were again with Sam Drinkwater, I was delighted we forced him to sit this Easter out. Another fall on his already cracked ribs could have had resulted in serious injuries for him. I have no doubt in my mind we made the right decision as far as Sam is concerned. He hates me for it, but I can live with that! Sam Waley Cohen was a fantastic substitute, neither result would have been any different with either jockey.
All the other horses had quiet canters this morning accept Medieval Gateway who may go to Paxford on Monday.
