Cast No Shadow really has come out of that Newcastle race in fine order, and he’s looking very well within himself at the moment.

I’d say he’s come out of each of his three runs a little bit better each time, so that’s good to see that he’s getting used to racing that little bit more. We’ve just kept him ticking over recently, but he’s moving really well, so I couldn’t be any happier with him at this stage.

The plan is still very much to go to Newcastle on the 8th December for that restricted novice race, and hopefully that’s a race he can win as he really does deserve to get his head in front after that performance the last day. We’ll see how the race looks nearer the time, but his mark of 77 hopefully might just scare off a couple who were thinking of running, but we’ll have a look at that when the entries come through.

I think his opening mark of 77 is fair based on what he did the last day, and while they could have been harsher, I think the handicapper knows I always campaign my horses honestly, and I’d be hopeful if he does go handicapping off 77, that is a mark he could be very competitive off.

We still plan to give him a break and get him gelded after his next run, so hopefully he can hit the ground running next season, but we’d really love to win that Newcastle race with him before then!

Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Club Trainer