Hi all,
Last Saturday’s racing wasn’t the strongest in terms of quality, but it was certainly competitive. I won’t knock the “Go North” Finals Weekend—it's a great initiative that provides valuable prize money for horses who wouldn’t usually get the chance to race for such sums. It was also a good Saturday for trainer Lucinda Russell.
The jumps season still has plenty left to offer over the next six weeks. We’ve got the Aintree Grand National Festival, the Scottish Grand National, the Irish Grand National, the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, and of course, the Punchestown Festival, which wraps up on 2,000 Guineas Day at Newmarket.
Note to self: Next year, I’m booking a holiday for this weekend!
It’s rare that I’m lost for words on a Monday during the season, but this week, I am. The one positive it didn’t take me too long to write today’s column.
Saturday Recap: Red Letter Day for Lucinda
You know it’s been a quiet Saturday on the track when the Racing Post’s website headline news was Constitution Hill’s likely Aintree Hurdle bid before a possible Punchestown clash with State Man.
It was a good day, however, for Lucinda Russell, Fergal O’Brien, and Ruth Jefferson.
Lucinda Russell had a Kelso double, with Starlyte bringing up her 150th winner at the track when winning the Ladbrokes Go North Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle
Fergal O’Brien yard was also in top form, landing the Herring Queen Series Final at Kelso with Leloopa before a second win at the track with Is This For Real in the Go North Jodami Series Final. He also doubled up at Newbury, with Siog Geal battling to victory in the Grade 2 BetVictor British EBF Mares' Novices' Hurdle. It’s fair to say his stable has turned a corner after a tough winter.
Ruth Jefferson’s Lavida Adiva took the Listed Mares’ Hurdle at Kelso. The race fell apart somewhat with the well fancied Wyenot and Gale Mahler underperforming, but that won’t bother connections—it was a valuable prize to land.
At Kelso, horses were coming home like Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. Some on social media blamed the ground, but I’d say it was more a case of horses being over the top after a tough winter campaign.
Flat fans like me only have five days to wait for the season opener at Doncaster—the Lincoln Handicap—before the Classic trials start rolling in. The Flat season can’t come soon enough!
Monday Racing
With the Flat season just around the corner, I have one of interest at Wolverhampton this evening.
Wolverhampton
7:30 – Twilight Romance improved on his Southwell reappearance when finishing 3¼ lengths 5th of 10 over C&D 16 days ago. Capable of winning this off his current mark—provided he breaks better than last time. Bet365 were going a generous 12/1 about his chance on Sunday evening and if you can get that I would take it. He’s a more realistic 13/2 with the likes of Coral & Ladbrokes.
In Tuesday’s column, it won’t be NH eyecatchers day. Instead, I’ll have five horses for the new Flat season that can win race in 2025.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John