Dubai Days wins at Haydock, five Sunday Musselburgh runners, one at Carlisle on Monday and a Kelso wrap up

Cold and drizzly (again) but a heart warming win from Dubai Days down at Haydock this afternoon; this was such a tough performance on seasonal debut having seriously injured himself back in September, and an ITV1 Premier Fixture as well, absolutely delighted, a serious team effort to get him back to his best again – many thanks to all involved and a huge WELL DONE!

On to Musselburgh tomorrow where we have 5 declared runners on ground that is described as good to soft, suspect it will be quicker than that so we may have a few withdrawals though hopefully today’s persistent drizzle may have eased it a bit.

We start with Split Stone in the 14.00; he’s been gradually getting his act together over hurdles and should outrun his odds though he will be better over further in time – 9 run and Jamie Hamilton rides.

We have two runners in the 15.00, Not in Kansas (Bruce) and Beat the Retreat (Dom).  They finished a length apart over 3 miles here a fortnight ago to finish 6th and 8th in a better quality race, both actually have better form over this shorter trip (2m 4f) and should go well again – first time cheek pieces are worn by Beat the Retreat and it’s the second start post a wind op for Not in Kansas.  I couldn’t split them – 10 run.

Anamanda runs in the 16.00, she’s been running well this season including being 2nd over course and distance so should play a part in the finish again, Conor rides and 8 run.

Finally we run Skiddaw in the 17.00, the form of his last run over course and distance has worked out well and he has been ready to run again for a while so ought to put up a decent show back down in class – Bruce rides and 13 run.

 

After that it will be Carlisle on Monday where My Lady Elektra runs in the first race at 13.20, this race looks ideal for her so long as she handles the idiosyncratic track, she is down in class and has had a small wind operation since running well enough at Kelso just after Christmas – we are also popping on some cheek pieces, Bruce rides and 12 run.

At Kelso yesterday we had a mixed day…….  Eloi du Puy took an uncharacteristic fall before the race had got going, Theme Tune bounced back to form with a very solid 5th in a competitive handicap, Burning it Up progressed nicely to be 3rd, Mack the Man didn’t want to know about it all, Ginger Mail was in the process of running a lovely race until propping badly on landing three out, Ned Tanner ran a great race to be 2nd in the feature chase (he has now won or made the frame on 20 of his 24 career starts), Gaillimh a Stor told us he definitely prefers hurdles to fences and Lester Mail showed bags of improvement to finish 6th in the bumper, only 7l behind the winner. Time for a large drink me thinks!