Maison D'Or is a very willing partner, he just needs conditions in his favour, which are a soft surface, and a very long trip.He raced twice on the flat during the summer, finding the Catterick two miles too sharp, and he was also staying on over two miles and one furlong at Pontefract later in the month, but he found the ground too fast.He returns to hurdles in the 1.50.pm with Emma Smith-Chaston reuniting with him, having been in the saddle when winning at Catterick over their extended three miles and one furlong, on good to soft last November. He remains 6lb above that win, and this race will put him spot on for his season ahead.
Mac Cennetig races in the same colours as our stable star Cornerstone Lad, and he will run for the third time this season in the 2.20.pm, with Billy Garritty taking the ride.Mac Cennetig has failed to sparkle since his return, hanging right at Market Rasen, and getting detached from an early stage at Sedgefield last time.He was a winner on his chase debut in July 2019 at Market Rasen, and followed that up with an even better performance at Sedgefield next time, causing the handicapper to raise him 14lb. He is coming down the weights again now, but is still 8lb above his last win, the trip, and track will suit, but he wouldn't want the ground to get too soft.
We run two in the bumper at 3.50.pm. Belle O' The Dales is a French bred filly who has run in two bumpers to date, she made a very satisfactory start to her career when finishing forth in a junior bumper at Wetherby last December, keeping on in to forth once the penny dropped, but back at the same track in January she had to be pulled up because she broke blood vessels, with the vet saying she had bled from the nose.She has been given plenty of time since, and can now start to get her career back on track,Billy Garritty who had ridden her on both previous occasions, retains the ride.
Our final runner, also in the bumper is the debutante Wisteriarose, who will be ridden by Richard Johnson. Wisteriarose is a very well bred four year old filly by the Ascot Gold Cup, and St Ledger winner Leading Light, her dam was a useful performer in France in her racing days, and has produced the 148 Racing Post rated Militarian who was third at Ascot last Saturday in a Grade 3 handicap Chase, and the even higher, 163 rated Hell's Kitchen, who won the Punchestown Champion Chase, in April 2019.Of course breeding can't guarantee success, as she also has too other very moderate siblings as well.
Good luck to the connections, D Lees, Mrs B M Lofthouse, S M & Mrs D S Everard, and Mrs Jane Newett.