Dreich today – damp and misty after a wet night.  Off to Carlisle tomorrow with three runners on ground that I am hoping will have eased slightly from the current “good”.

Old Comrades

We start off with Old Comrades in the novice hurdle at 13.17; he looked like an out and out stayer when he won his point to point in Ireland in spring 2025 and he ran like he hadn’t acclimatised on his two starts for the yard last season.  He seems much better this time round and is having a run over 2m to bring him forward.  Hopefully a horse to look forward to when he steps up in trip this winter – 13 run and Bruce rides.

Bel Amigo

Bel Amigo drops back in trip to 2m in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at  13.52; my initial inclination had been to step up in trip but he has a good record over this course and distance including when runner up in this race a year ago so thought worth another go.  This year’s renewal looks more competitive but he is 5lb lower now and ought to give a good account – 8 run and Dom rides.

Half Track

Finally we run Half Track in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle at 15.02; he was out of sorts last season and as a result has come down the weights and is now 15lb lower than when runner up here in December 2024.  Certainly has a chance on paper if anywhere near back to his best – that’s the question, I’ve been very happy with him at home. 13 run and Bruce rides.

At Hexham yesterday neither of our runners handled the track particularly well but we were very pleased with Lester Mail staying on nicely to be 3rd and Burning it Up did what was required in terms of completing safely prior to finishing 6th – he’s better than this though.  An excellent card at Carlisle tomorrow for anyone inclined to have a day at the races – great to see the wonderful Golden Ace appearing in the best hurdle of the season so far.

Much colder today and an autumnal week in prospect.  Not a bad thing with good to firm ground prevailing at the Northern jumps tracks, a decent amount of rain would be most welcome.  It looks like being quite damp at Hexham over the next 24 hours which will hopefully be just enough to put the ground right, we have two declared runners and Bruce rides them both.

Lester Mail

First up is Lester Mail taking a small step up in class in the 15.07; he ran well to be 4th in his first two handicaps late on last season shaping as if he would be better over further.  2m 4f tomorrow may actually be on the sharp side for him but it’s a good place to start and it is quite a stiff 2m 4f, I’ve probably always thought he would be best on a flat track so the Hexham topography is very much an unknown but the race ticks every other box so worth finding out.  9 run.

Burning it Up

Our other runner is Burning it Up in the 3m handicap chase at 16.50; he unseated after a circuit on seasonal and chase debut last month at Perth so we didn’t learn much that day.  With that in mind the priority tomorrow will be a clear round, he’s done plenty of schooling since Perth and does seem in very good form so if his jumping comes together and he stays the 3m then he could be competitive. 9 run.

Ned Tanner heading to post at Perth last week

A good day at Perth last week with Ned Tanner and Le Coup d’Envoi both finishing 3rd, Dubai Days also ran well though tired a little in the closing stages.  I was greatly encouraged by Shooting’s effort for a circuit but he tired very quickly turning for home; he’s been off a long time so I’d give him the benefit of the doubt for now and put it down to fitness / lack of match practice.  After Hexham tomorrow we hope to be at Carlisle on Thursday and Kelso on Saturday.

Fresh and breezy this morning, some heavy showers this week and a good few of them have landed on Perth where I expect the ground to be mostly soft for the very welcome extra fixture they are staging tomorrow. We have five declared runners on a card that has attracted horses from all corners of the British Isles.

Le Coup d’Envoi

We start off with stable debutant Le Coup d’Envoi in the 2m 4f Maiden Hurdle at 12.55; he is a recruit from the battlefields of Auteuil and Pau and on paper he ought to have a good chance reverting to hurdles having been running over fences in France.  He certainly works like a horse with loads of ability but what is always uncertain is how long they will take to acclimatise to the British way of training and racing; another unknown is whether they are flattered by their French handicap mark.  Will be interesting, either way he’s a lovely horse to have in the yard – 8 run and Bruce rides.

Oor Wish

Oor Wish is declared for the 2m Maiden Hurdle at 13.55, she is just finding her feet over obstacles and will be better over further in due course but she can hopefully run a nice race and learn a bit more.  She did give herself a little over-reach schooling yesterday so it is touch and go as to whether she will make it there – 10 run and Bruce rides.

Dubai Days

Our veteran chaser and stable stalwart Dubai Days runs in the 3m Chase at 14.30.  He’s getting on but there are no signs at home that his ability is waning, unfortunately that continues to be reflected in his handicap mark which remains within 3lb of it’s all time high despite him being 12yo.  Will be tough and the weight will probably stop him against a bunch of younger progressive horses but I would still expect him to acquit himself well – 6 run and Bruce rides.

Shooting

Shooting runs in the 2m Handicap Hurdle at 15.05.  We had high hopes for him when he arrived from France to go juvenile hurdling last summer and we pitched him straight into a Listed Race at Wetherby, I think a tough regime in France had left his mark as he wasn’t really interested and didn’t run a race at all.  This was followed by a series of setbacks that were not of his own making and I am hoping that the enforced rest will have revived him, some days at home I’d say it definitely has but other days can sow seeds of doubt.  He’s fresh and well so let’s hope we see something tomorrow – 9 run and Dom rides claiming a valuable 7lb.

Ned Tanner

Finally Ned Tanner makes his seasonal debut in the 2m 4f Handicap Chase at 16.15.  Although he was placed in four of his eight starts last season he did seem to have lost his way a little, as a result the handicapper has relented very gradually and he is now 11lb lower than he was this time last year.  That should be a big help though he has tended to improve for his first run each season – 9 run and Sean rides.  With the exception of the small setback to Oor Wish the horses we are running tomorrow have been fortunate to have a perfect preparation for their races since they came in at the beginning of July.  This is down to the hard work and focus of our dedicated Team and the patience of their Owners, it takes a long time to condition a horse for racing so thank you to everyone.  These photographs were mostly taken by the talented Carenza Pinn at our Owners Day last month – one of my favourite days of the year.

The G Wizard

Our venture to Perth in late September went reasonably well, the highlights were undoubtedly excellent runs to be third from Beat the Retreat and The G Wizard.  Bel Amigo also ran well, Burning it Up unseated after a circuit whislt Anamanda and Maillot Blanc were both a little lacklustre.

Suspected – hopefully makes his chasing debut at Kelso next week.