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A list of horses to look out for in Scotland and the North over the winter period.
ACDC (Chris Grant)
Marked down as one for the stamina test handicap in the North, but threw a curve ball when winning over 2m 3f at Wetherby recently. That said the trainer is aiming at the Scottish National long term.BETTER GETALONG (Nicky Richards)
Progressive last season but found Grade 1 company too tough at Aintree. Rated 138 and could make a mark in decent handicap hurdles or in novice chases.BIG BAD DREAM (Donald Whillans)
Starts off in hurdles this season after showing promise in bumpers without winning. Long term he will make a staying chaser but can make a mark in hurdles when stamina is at a premium.BLACK PIRATE (James Ewart)
Comfortably won a couple of bumpers before running a very creditable second in a decent event at Ayr in April. Very interesting novice hurdle prospect for the Langholm yard.CLOUDY DREAM (Ruth Jefferson)
There or thereabouts in decent company last season if just falling short at Grade 1 and 2 level. If his trainer is canny as a non-winner last season there will be events available where weight conditions are favourable.CRIXUS’S ESCAPE (Gillian Boanas)
The trainer has taken over the Reveley yard and has a very interesting prospect. Winner of a maiden then a novice event at Hexham this one starts on a workable mark in handicaps.CUCKOO’S CALLING (Keith Dalgleish)
Won a couple of bumpers last autumn. Fell a bit short of the mark on the Flat subsequently, but there are soft opportunities in the mares/fillies’ only division in the north and she can win races over hurdles.DALI MAIL (Donald Whillans)
Doddle up in a Kelso bumper in February having run a creditable third to a nice sort on previous outing. Raced keenly and well held when upped to Grade 2 at Aintree, but has shown enough to suggest novice hurdles are well within his compass.DONNA’S DELIGHT (Sandy Thomson)
Winning novice hurdler last season and thereabouts on each run. Could go be a handicap hurdler this season with chasing the long term goal for this brother to a fair staying chaser Knockanrawley.HIGHLAND HUNTER (Lucinda Russell)
Winner of a Kelso bumper and then not totally disgraced when a bit keen in Grade 2 company at Aintree. Looks a ready made hurdles winner.IDEE DE GARDE (Nicky Richards)
Won nicely in a bumper at Ayr in January. A nice individual who should pay his way in novice hurdle company.NORTHERN SOUL (Ruth Jefferson)
Not hurried last season as Ruth took over on the passing of her father. The type to make a mark in novice hurdles in the coming months. Had the better of a prolonged scrap with Legal Eyes at Market Rasen, and that sort of competition is no harm in a young horse’s education.NUTS WELL (Ann Hamilton)
A decent performer who has rather gone under the radar. Impressed when forging clear on the run-in from some decent opponents at Kelso on return recently. That was on quick ground but he goes just as well in heavy and will be competitive in minimum distance handicap chases.OFF THE HOOK (Nick Alexander)
Ran second three times over hurdles and remains a maiden. Has ability and should land a race or two in maiden/novice hurdle company. Has raced at minimum trip to date, handling heavy going well enough.SAINT LEO (Sandy Thomson)
Lightly raced Ray Anderson Green purchase from France. Won last season over fences so not a novice and hence may need careful placing, but this youngster is likely to prove a decent acquisition.SLANELOUGH (Rose Dobbin)
A decent performer over hurdles for the last two seasons and showed promise on chasing debut at Carlisle when fourth behind useful animals. Should have no trouble landing a novice chase in the coming months.TESTIFY (Donald McCain)
Impressive in winning small field chases before disappointing in bigger fields. Worth a chance this season as he is on a workable handicap mark.TRESHNISH (Sue Smith)
Quickly stepped up to chasing after progressing throughout last season. Was last of five on chasing debut at Carlisle but that was a tough race, stable runners have tended to need the run this season and still showed sufficient promise to suggest chase wins are not far away.TAXMEIFYOUCAN (Keith Dalgleish)
Useful dual purpose animal, winner of a Class 2 handicap on the flat in 2017 and not disgraced over hurdles in Class 2 company. His trainer is a decent placer of his horses and can win a handicap or two with a lightly raced hurdler.UPTOWN FUNK (Keith Dalgleish)
Good ground performer and lightly raced over hurdles. Recorded his hurdles win at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day and one to keep an eye out for at the free draining East Lothian circuit over the winter.I like Taxmeifyoucan Rob, I was at Haydock when he won last year, and kept an eye on him since.
Best of luck.
I like Better Getalong!
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!CLOUDY DREAM has now moved to Donald McCain.
A dismal start for the list last weekend, but hopefully rain will arrive soon and softer ground might kick start things.
IDEE DE GARDE now with Dan Skelton and entered in a novices’ hurdle at Lingfield on November 27th.
Bypassed Lingfield and tomorrow at Newbury, now entered at Newcastle on Saturday and ‘jocked up’ so I presume an outing is imminent.DALI MAIL goes in a maiden hurdle at Ayr at 12.45 today. Runs up against a well regarded Nick Alexander animal in Not The Chablis. A few non-runners on the card as rain has turned the going Heavy.
SLANELOUGH goes in a handicap chase at Doncaster tomorrow (Friday) running off 129. I reckon there is a bit of ‘wriggle room’ off that mark. Not on this year’s list but Fly Rory Fly from Nick Alexander goes in a novices’ handicap chase off 112 which might be getting towards a mark he can win off.
IDEE DE GARDE runs at Newcastle, and if he’s anything decent he really ought to win this. One note of caution is that he is noted as having a wind op and is tongue-tied. I always assumed the former avoided having to employ the latter, so doesn’t make me rest easy.
DONNA’S DELIGHT goes in the 1.35 a Newcastle a staying novice handicap chase. Looks a competitive event and may give an indication of what exactly Sandy Thomson has on his hands going forward. Ground reported as drying out, Newcastle isn’t copping the rain some of us have had, so might not be testing enough.
TESTIFY runs in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle. Twelve runners here will test whether he can handle a decent sized field.
TRESHNISH goes in the 1.45 at Doncaster, a 2m 3f novices’ handicap chase. Dropped in at the deep end so far this season and this contest, though plenty competitive, should prove a little easier for him.
DALI MAIL won in impressive style at Ayr yesterday. Looks capable of stepping up on this and the Whillans stable might have an eye on the Kelso Premier Hurdle as a long term target.
TRESHNISH once again dropped into a tough contest at Haydock and finished last of four. There may be some logic to the continued tough questions this one is being asked by the Smiths, but I don’t see it. looks the type to aim at a 0-130 novices’ handicap chase.
TAXMEIFYOUCAN was once again way out the back and I do wonder about his well being at the moment.
NUT’S WELL finished a respectable fourth in a decent handicap hurdle at Wetherby.
ACDC picked up decent prize money when completing for third of three finishers in Grade 2 company at Aintree. He stayed with two genuine Grade 2 class horses for a long way before giving way from three out. Hopefully this one will revert to handicap company over three miles plus next time.
BIG BAD DREAM stayed on strongly to finish third over two miles at Kelso. An extra lap would have helped and this one needs to be stepped up in trip.
OFF THE HOOK managed to find an irritatingly decent mares’ novice hurdle and found one too good once again. Didn’t do too much wrong to my eye though and must surely pick up a mares race soon.
CRIXUS’S ESCAPE ran a bit better at Bangor yesterday, fourth of seven, but still has some improvement to make. Stable isn’t exactly pulling up any trees at the moment.
Thought that was a really decent run the other day from Acdc, definitely has a couple of races in him Rob.
HIGHLAND HUNTER won at Hexham this week and will presumably have his sights set a fair bit higher, with Albert Bartlett Prestige hurdle at Haydock now the declared target. I’m not sure if he’s as good as Brindisi breeze, but looks a fair stayer and won’t be far short of that bracket.
Christmas shopping this morning and haven’t yet caught up with today’s racing but OFF THE HOOK ran a few mniutes ago at Newcastle. A tougher event than those she has contested so far.
BETTER GETALONG go in a 5-runner handicap hurdle in Haydock’s 2.05 on seasonal debut. Up against two fair Scottish performers coming off lay-offs in Spirit Of Kayf (sold fairly cheaply so may have a problem) and Seemorelights. THe other two are a consistent sort in Chti Balko and a decnet southern raider in Ballymoy.
TESTIFY bids to set aside his apparent big field in the Tommy Whittle.
TRESHNISH looks to at a level he can more than cope with today and I am confident of a good showing in Newcastle’s 2.30 He’s top weight in a 0-120 here, as against going level weights in conditions events.
Off the Hook third at 40/1. Upside is that Nick Alexander has bagged some black type for this mre and she must surely win a mares novice soon. Down side is that the non-runenr meant that there were only two palces for betting purposes.
TESTIFY can’t hack it in big fields and only real disappointment for list horses today.
TRESHNISH is decnet in his class, nice 9/4 winner who can hopefully kick on from this in 0-130 level.
BETTER GETALONG made a very encouraging comeback in second. Maybe a northern challenger for whatever they call the Schweppes Hurdle these days!
DALI MAIL came second in what looked a very decent contest at Ayr on Wednesday. Winner of the race on hurdle debut was the Gordon Elliott trained Whoshothtesheriff who goes into the notebook as one that can score at Listed level or better. The third Sebastapol is no slouch and the three came clear from two out.
TRESHNISH ran at Kelso last week but couldn’t follow up his previous win. He was never really going behind a progressive sort in CHARMANT and it looked like the race came too soon.
IDEE DE GARDE runs in the Tolworth Hurdle today and looks over-priced at 33/1. A second at Newcastle looked a bit disappointing, but the winner of that won again at Newbury last Saturday.THe Drinky
DONNA’S DELIGHT goes in a staying handicap chase at Newcastle at 2.35. The Drinkymeister and Ascot Du Bruyere look to be the dangers.
IDEE DE GARDE was withdrawn because of the ground. Ground conditions hadn’t changed since declaration so why this is allowed only the BHA can explain, and Twitter requests go unanswered.
DONNA’S DELIGHT ran a decent race to be placed behind Ascot De Bruyere and should pick up a race once we get softer ground. THe winner is progressive and built well on a decent effort in a competitive Borders National.
CRIXUS’S ESCAPE was a close third yesterday at Ayr and is homing in on a victory. Progress to date this season suggests that this one is approaching peak fitness. Gillian Boanas has a low strike rate and I do wonder whether this one would have notched up a win or two this season if with another trainer.
Rain desperately needed for a fair few on the list. Two jumps meetings today with ‘Good to Firm’ in the going description and similar for tomorrow. Even Kelso is showing up as Good for Sunday and that’s almost unheard of at this time of year.
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