Andre Klein is General Manager at Warwick Racecourse. In his latest column with the Observer he looks at the talent on show at the Qatar Airways May Racing Carnival.
There have been some stand-out performances during the Qatar Airways Warwick May Racing Carnival.
Make a note of these three names, because they will be winners next time they venture to a racecourse.
Thebannerkingrebel is some horse and when he lined up in the McCoy Contractors Maiden Hurdle at Ladies Night, he was as close to a certainty as I have known.
Up until Saturday, he had been restricted to just four runs.
The first of those was here at Warwick in January last year, when he blitzed his opposition by an impressive 12-lengths.
He then won in similar fashion at Bangor, before running at the Cheltenham Festival.
He didn’t show up on that occasion, but ran a close second in the Aintree bumper in April over a year later.
Those are strong credentials, so it’s no wonder he was a short price to win at Warwick on his first go over hurdles.
Another quality horse, using its local track as a stepping stone to greater things.
Dan Skelton’s Blair’s Cove seems to have a love affair with Warwick, in fact it’s the only racecourse he’s won at.
The first of those wins came two years ago in the May Carnival of 2017.
He followed that success up with a close second behind the talented Talkischeap, reappearing at Warwick for the Grand Season Opener in September of the same year, where he won again.
On the opening day of the Carnival on Bank Holiday Monday, he created a lasting impression, and won easily.
He then arrived again a week later to win another.
It would come as no surprise to see the 7-year-old go for a Warwick hat-trick.
Finally, trainer Alan King has terrific strike rate here.
On Ladies Night, the Barbury Castle-based trainer visited Warwick to watch the very progressive Potterman win the Qatar Airways Handicap Hurdle.
He beat some quality horses in this Class 3 event, with the six-year-old notched a career high rating.
There are just two more days to go for Warwick this season with Proudly Warwick Race Day on May 22, and Celebration Race Night on May 29.
