Six runners at the Ayr SGN Festival, Lester wins at Kelso and farewell to two very good friends.

Yet another lovely day, wonderful in many ways but not for jump racing and beginning to dread to think what the summer has in store for us!  Let’s hope I’m being unduly pessimistic, enjoy the weather while we can and pray the racecourses are getting enought water on.  The two day Ayr Scottish Grand National Festival kicks off tomorrow and the racing looks very competitive.  They’ve been watering 24/7 for at least a week now; importantly watering through the night which is so much more effective thanks to the lower evaporation rate.  Getting technical now but it is officially good to soft and the going stick reading would support that, we have four declared runners starting with recent course and distance winner Ballyfort in the opening race at 1.30.

Whilst it was a much lesser contest that he won here last month he subsequently ran well enough to be 4th in the middle distance Go North Final after that, appearing not to quite get home over the 2m 5f.  I’d like to think he will be competitive dropped back in trip tround the track that has seen him at his best, hood comes off, Bruce rides and 12 run.

We are doubly represented in the staying handicap hurdle at 2.40 with Gaillimh a Stor and Theme Tune, both of whom go there in very good order but have shown their best form on much softer ground.  Gaillimh (Bruce) has been in very good form over course and distance this season and if the ground was softer would have a great chance, let’s hope he proves more versatile than his trainer thinks!

Likewise Theme Tune (Conor) who has been slow to come back from a lay off but ran a pretty good race last time.  He’s thrived since and I’m confident he’s in the best form he’s been for a long time but we may end up waiting for the rain – 14 run.

Last but not least we run Ned Tanner in the 3.15, this has been the plan since he won over course and distance in March and whilst he hasn’t had an entirely straightforward preparation he should give a good account again off a low weight in a deep and competitive race.

Thankfully WP Mullins hadn’t won the Grand National when the Friday entries closed but he had by Saturday’s entries and he’s sending over the battallions to try to wrestle the UK Trainers Championship off Dan Skelton who must feel somewhat under siege.  Ayr will be watering again on Friday night and we hope the ground will still be on the soft side for our two runners starting with My Lady Elektra in the Mares Handicap Hurdle at 2.55.  She is 8lb out of the weights but ran very respectably last time against the two top weights in this race to be 4th last time.  Has a big weight pull so can hopefully outrun her odds again with conditions in her favour – Bruce rides and 12 run.

Scarlet Jet was a late declaration for the 3m Novice Handicap Hurdle at 4.10, there will need to still be a bit of juice in the ground for him to run but we felt worth keeping the option open given that there looks like only being six runners for a decent prize, all bar one being handicap debutants like him.  All are also stepping up in trip, Jet should improve for that so let’s hope a few of the others don’t!  Bruce rides and 6 or 7 will run.

 

We were thrilled with Lester Mail winning the Bumper at Kelso on Monday, running in Dr Jim Walker’s famous colours and being a full brother to Elvis Mail he had big shoes to fill so it was wonderful that he gave Jim his first National Hunt winner and Elvis didn’t mamage to win a bumper so hopefully we have a nice prospect on our hands.  Half Track ran another solid race to be 3rd, hopefully his day will come again soon, conditions were much too fast for Ozzy Cosmo.

A lump in the throat early yesterday when two very good friends of Kinneston left for pastures new – Wakool and Gipsy Lee Rose.  Both have been fabulous horses to train and have given their owners and all of us here tremendous fun.  One can never really be grateful enough to them for the pleasure they have given; I couldn’t wish for better homes for them and all I can do is wish them long and healthy second careers.