We have runners at three meetings on Tuesday, Cornerstone Lad represents us and the 'North' in the Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, while we take a team of five to Sedgefield, and also have a runner on the all weather at Newcastle in the evening.
First up in the 2.35.pm at Sedgefield our recent recruit Ballycrystal makes his third appearance for the yard. At his peak two years ago when trained by Brian Ellison he achieved a BHA rating of 130, on Tuesday he is able to run off 105 after showing some promise when plugging on at Market Rasen when last seen on Boxing Day. Becky Smith who has ridden two winners in the past five days takes the ride.
Roxyfet who will have a race named after him at Sedgefield next year makes his 38th appearance at the track in the 3.15.pm, he has won three of his last four at the track, and the handicapper (dare I say it) appears to have been quite kind to him, only raising him five pounds to 99 for his last win here ten days ago. This will be Roxyfet's ninth consecutive race at the track, so maybe the horses owner Samuel Sutton who makes the 360 round trip from Leicester every time he runs might think about moving up North.
We have two runners in the 3.55.pm in the shape of Burnage Boy, and Percy B Shelley. Since going jumping Burnage Boy has been a revelation, finishing runner up on two occasions, he has been given a small break since fifth finishing at Wetherby last time where the ground was possibly two soft for him.His opening handicap mark of 105 is just about right, so if he continues to show the same enthusiasm for jumping his first success shouldn't be too far away. We also run the ex Irish gelding Percy B Shelley in the same race, he arrived with a stiff looking handicap mark which has dropped by eight pounds for his two races for us, expect to see this dual purpose horse running on the flat in the next few weeks.
Another Irish import is Trimmers Lane who goes in the 4.35.pm, he is very lightly raced for a ten year old, with this being only his ninth race under rules.He was bought after winning a point-to-point last November, and the pick of his three runs for us to date would be the run at Catterick behind Ask Paddy when beaten a respectable fifteen lengths. He didn't look too keen at Carlisle last time so hopefully this drop back in trip to two and a half miles might awaken his interest.
Our final runner is on the all weather at Newcastle in the 7.15.pm when Dragons Will Rise will attempt to go two places better than last time over course and distance. He showed a glimmer of form as a two year old, but didn't build on that during his three year old season, including a run over jumps where he didn't stay.In that case it was a very pleasant surprise to see him run so well last time where with a clear run he would have won. With Graham Lee having to ride for his retained stable we welcome champion all weather jockey elect Ben Curtis who will be having his first ride for us.
Good luck to all of the connections.
Trimmers Lane, one of our representatives on a very busy say.