MENUISIER TARGETS BIG BEVERLEY BRACE
Tue 17th July 2018
David Menuisier has challenged Psychotic to go the distance at Beverley on Tuesday as the West Sussex trainer tries to win the Watt Memorial Handicap for a second consecutive year.
Menuisier claimed the big staying race – now in its 132nd year – 12 months ago with Corpus Chorister, who, like Psychotic, is owned by Clive Washbourn.
And now the same combination bid for the double with the five-year-old son of Nayef, who was an encouraging fifth over a mile and a half at Beverley on June 26.
Menuisier said: “I thought he ran really well on his last start at Beverley last month.
“He stayed on well for fifth place over a mile and a half, and that is the reason we have gone back to Beverley as he obviously likes running up that hill.
“Whether or not he will get the two-mile trip, I’m not sure, but we think it is worth a chance.
“Last year he was a very difficult ride, but he has relaxed a lot more now and is learning to become a racehorse.
“We cannot be too bullish about his chances, but we will be absolutely delighted if he can keep on progressing.”
Despite being five years old, Psychotic has raced just seven times and only made his debut in August 2017.
Pulborough-based Menuisier said: “He’s a horse who has had many, many problems.
“He had quite a bad leg injury, and to save the horse’s racing career we needed to geld him because he was just too heavy.
“It’s a bit of a miracle that he’s even be able to run at all, to be honest.
“Because of his problems, he was like a two-year-old last year and it is still very early days for him - it’s trial and error, really.
“All we hope is that he keeps improving.”
Five horses have been declared for the Watt Memorial Handicap (3.30), including Altra Vita from Sir Mark Prescott’s yard.
The three-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom is unbeaten in three outings this season and looks an improving horse.
Prescott also won this race two years ago with another three-year-old filly, St Michel, who is rated as highly as 108 and had been in contention for the 2017 Melbourne Cup.
Menuisier said: “We are under no illusions. The Prescott filly will be very hard to beat.
“That said, you should never be scared of one horse so hopefully he will run very well.
“Whatever happens, he will be an interesting horse for the second half of the season, so anything before that is a bonus.”
High On Light (David Barron), Stormin Tom (Tim Easterby) and Gabrial’s King (Richard Fahey) complete the quintet for the Watt Memorial Handicap.
Beverley’s meeting begins at 2pm and also showcases the RB Camel Derby, which is now in its third year.
