It is OK Day at Borrowdale Park on Saturday where the RTGS 70 000 OK Grand Challenge (GR2) will be run over 1800m.

After a disastrous attempt to predict the outcome of the recent 2000m Castle Tankard (GR1) – won by Peggson – I will confine this strictly to observations.

Last year the OK Grand Challenge was won by Simona ((53.5 kgs) who beat Peggson (52 kgs) by two lengths. Both line up again on Saturday but carry more weight this time, and are drawn wide.

With the exception of In The Mood and Coachella, the rest of the runners in Saturday’s big race took part in the Tankard, and the less said about how most finished the better. Leven Point, Fareeq and Arte were placed.

On second thoughts Wolves Among Sheep did not actually take part in the Tankard as he broke through the pens and bolted – and was subsequently withdrawn. Let’s hope for better luck this time.

In The Mood comes into this race fresh off a hat-trick of wins over 1800m, but steps up in class here. This four-year-old Bold Silvano filly has heart so we shall see.

The inclusion of Coachella – Zimbabwe’s top-rated sprinter – is a bit of a surprise. Earl of Surrey, best over sprints and middle distance races, managed to win the Zimbabwe Triple Crown, so maybe we should not overlook Coachella.

He runs off a Merit Rating of 103 and will carry top weight of 61.5 kgs on Saturday. Peggson and Simona are rated next best and will carry 56.5 kgs and 56 kgs respectively.

Perhaps we are in line for another huge Quartet. The Tankard Quartet paid RTGS 23 811.20!

This is sure to be an interesting race. May all the runners perform well and return safe and sound.

Photograph by Andrew Philip