Kelso tomorrow – getting busy again!

Dull and damp this afternoon but “open” weather which is always a result at this time of year.  After a quiet few days on the racing front we are planning to become very busy and hope to have the best part of 30 runners over the next two weeks; maybe a winner or two, you never know, we could do with one as the horses have generally been running well without winning.  That would include our two Haydock runners at their pre Christmas meeting where My Kiwi Girl was 3rd in the Listed Mares Hurdle and Half Track was beaten in a photo for 3rd in the staying handicap hurdle.

We kick off again at Kelso tomorrow where the ground looks like being good, probably the fastest it’s been there since early October so we will have a good look at it in the morning.  Assuming the ground is suitable we will have six runners starting with Gaillimh a Stor in the 12.53, he ran a brilliant race on comeback to be a close 3rd here 3 weeks ago; this race feels deeper and he’d been off a long time before that so the ground will definitely need to be on the soft side of good for him to line up – Bruce rides and 12 run.  We then have three runners in the maiden hurdle at 1.28; Atlantic Alfie (Patrick Wadge), Burning it Up (Bruce) and Split Stone (Jamie Hamilton) – they all ought to be fine on the ground, 14 run.

The debutant Atlantic Alfie has come to racing quite late in life through no fault of his own (he will be 8yo next week) and this imposing brother to Atlantic Dancer appears to possess plenty of ability; however….  I have likened trying to get him fit to having to prepare a 17st middle aged bloke who has never taken much exercise in life to run a marathon, it has been a struggle and we are by no means there yet!  Think of this as his first 10k having done a few park runs, he’s going to need it but we’ve done just about as much as we can at home and I was determined to get him on the track as a 7yo.

Burning it Up on the other hand is very fit; we were a little underwhelmed with his bumper run as he is much better than that so we will ride him more patiently tomorrow and I’d expect a better result though he has plenty to find to make the frame.

Split Stone made a lovely debut over hurdles at Ayr last month until fading late on, he should improve for that and he will also be ridden with plenty of patience.

The mares hurdle is at 2.38 and we have two of the 7 runners in what looks like a tight handicap, My Lady Elektra (Sean) and Not in Kansas (Bruce).  Both would prefer softer ground but should be OK so long as it is no faster than described.  Elektra ran very well for a long way last time at Musselburgh and could certainly play a part dropping in grade.  Ultimately we think she wants further but we are really still learning about her and we thought worth taking our chance in a relativley small field.

Not in Kansas also wants further but again we thought worth taking our chance, she was 3rd behind two well handicapped horses over 3 miles last time at Musselburgh and she ought to be competitive if she copes with the drop back in trip.

 

It will be on to Haydock on Monday with three runners who should all hold nice each way chances on what is likely to be heavy ground – Ned Tanner, Cream of the West and Mack the Man.  Will hopefully find time to update in more detail after Kelso tomorrow.