Busy weekend – Newcastle, Doncaster, Carlisle, Alnwick & Jockey Start!

Cold, grey and damp today after a few glorious winter mornings.  A busy weekend lies ahead for the Team with runners at Newcastle and Doncaster tomorrow then Carlisle and the Alnwick point-to-point on Sunday.

Hopefully the ground will be on the easy side of good at Newcastle where we have two runners starting with Master Bricklayer in the 11.42; this is a busy and competitive race but he seems in very good form for this seasonal debut and he should be well suited by the trip and track so I’d hope he will run to his best and play a part in the finish, a repeat of his Ayr March form would see him do that – 16 run and Patrick Wadge rides.

Boolamore Classic then makes his chasing debut in the 2.32, this race lacks depth and if he takes to the track and fences he ought to be able to leave his hurdling form behind – 7 run and Jamie Hamilton rides.

Down at Doncaster Elvis Mail runs in the feature chase at 2.05; seeing him at the top of the weights for a top class £50k Saturday gives me mixed emotions – hasn’t he done well to get here and how the hell is he going to be able to win!  He’s in great order, has won his last two races, has run well at the track and the good to soft ground should be perfect.  Whilst the opposition are all quite classy many of them haven’t run to their best recently, however a few have and we’ve got to give them a stone plus so it will be very tough.  Hopefully he can acquit himself well – 15 run and Bruce rides.

On to Carlisle on Sunday where unfortunately Bel Amigo was balloted out which leaves us with three runners on what is likely to be soft ground.  First up is Ballyfort in the 12.25, he took a tired fall at the last fence when beaten on chasing debut last time but he is in better form now and is beginning to look nicely handicapped – 7 run and Bruce rides.

Wakool runs in the 2.07; he’s been a shadow of his former self on the racecourse recently but it’s a very different story at home where he appears to retain all his ability and zest.  I suspect we won’t see that on the racecourse until he becomes well handicapped and can swim in quieter waters than this competitive and valuable Cheltenham qualifier.  When he is lower in the weights he could well regain his confidence and start winning again, I don’t feel we are at that point yet but he won’t come down the weights standing in his stable hence has to run – 10 run and Conor rides.

Gipsy Lee Rose makes a quick return to the scene of her recent 40-1 win, race conditions are identical, she carries an extra 5lb and the ground should be similar.  She’s fresh and well at home and has a great chance of following up if she runs the same type of race.  Far from certain but worth a shot, only thing I can guarantee is she won’t be 40-1 this time!

Over at Alnwick we have Jess and Jesika both running under the laudable Jockey Start scheme.  Jess rides Not the Chablis for us in the 2m 4f Conditions Race, they established a great rapport last season and can hopefully carry on where they left off.  Jesika has her first ride on the talented Diable de Sivola for Will Ramsay in the Mixed Open – good luck Jess & Jesika!

Jockey Start is an intitiative started last season to sponsor and encourage young riders in point-to-points – it is an excellent intiative which we are delighted to support, you can find out more by looking up Jockey Start on Facebook or Instagram.