We send two up to Carlisle on Thursday, where the going at the time of writing is soft. Artic Quest is first up in the 12.30.pm, a 0-105 handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys, with Aiden Macdonald able to claim 6lb off of him. Before arriving at Oakwood stables in August of last year, Artic Quest had run on 13 occasions in Ireland, and in at least two of those races showed enough to suggest there is a win in him. He ran a cracker first time up at Cartmel for us last August when finishing second, but disappointed in two subsequent runs at Hexham in October, he has had a good long break since then.
We also run Who's The Guv'Nor in the two miles and one furlong novices hurdle at 3.15.pm, with Alain Cawley taking the ride. Who's Who's The Guv'Nor made a satisfactory start to his career in May 2018, when finishing a promising 10 lengths sixth in a Market Rasen bumper, but he was the off the track for the next 10 months, and made no show at Sedgefield on his return. After wind surgery he has run on a further four occasions without showing any real promise. A more solid run this time would see the handicapper give him his first mark.
Good luck to the connections, Ian Barran & Oakwood, and Mr & Mrs I P Earnshaw.
ARTIC QUEST. 16 April 2012. Trans Island-Back The Queen. Owner-Ian Barran & Oakwood.
Artic Quest has raced on 13 occasions to date for another yard, and is yet to place in the first three, but he does have two pieces of form which suggest he has enough ability to win a race.
He is by the high class miler Trans Island, out of an unraced Bob Back mare, who has produced Fiesty Lass, a winner over hurdles for Gordon Elliott at Perth, back in 2013. Artic Quest made his debut in an Irish point to point at Oldcastle, in April 2016, he was a beaten third when falling at the last.He raced in a further two points in October, and November, but pulled up on both occasions
He made his rules debut for the County Wexford trainer J.A.Berry in a bumper at Wexford, in June 2017, weakening from two out, and coming home sixth of the seven runners.He made his hurdles debut 19 days later at Kilbeggan, but soon became detached and pulled up.Back in a bumper in July at Limerick, he raced keenly, weakening again, but running his best race yet by being beaten 19 lengths.
At Tramore in October, he showed his first real signs of ability when finishing forth in a maiden hurdle, staying on at one pace to be beaten nine and a half lengths, and earning a Racing Post Rating of 92.His final race of that season ended in disappointment later on that month, when pulling up at Wexford.
After his winter break he returned at Wexford in May 2018, but his jockey J. Moore pulled him up after the second jump, saying he had received a kick at the start, and was never travelling.He ran his best race to date, next time at Tramore, going down by just three and a half lengths, to finish forth, earning a best Racing Post Rating to date of 98.He raced a further three times in July, and August, tailing off twice, and pulling up.
Artic Quest raced twice more in 2019, finishing well behind at Wexford, on his seasonal debut in a novice hurdle, and then running in better class at Bellewstown, where he finished last of the five.