I’ve had a fairly quiet week with all the abandonments (including Cheltenham last weekend), and I’m told more snow is forecast but I’m keeping everything crossed that it doesn’t arrive! We have a few nice horses ready to come out now – we just need the races to be on!
I rode a winner on Tuesday, Mackenberg, for Donald McCain and owner Tim Leslie (I believe it was Tim’s 200th winner with Donald – a fantastic achievement!) – he’s a horse who wants good ground and one we’ve always liked. He won his first Novice hurdle and then got beaten twice on heavy ground so the AW bumper suited him well. He’s certainly a nice horse to look forward to in the spring and is well worth following.
I’m looking forward to some nice rides at Musselburgh tomorrow…
Saturday, 06 February – Musselburgh
12.57pm – Gaelik Coast
Gaelik Coast won well on his first start over fences at Fakenham and finished 2nd in his subsequent run, a handicap at Musselburgh over 2m. The ground was far too heavy for him the last day and as he’s a point to point winner, we always felt he’d be better over further hence the step up to 2m4f. He’s fresh and well at home, we’re not massively wrong with him in the weights and are looking forward to running him. I think he’s got a decent chance.
2.05pm – Blakeney Point
Blakeney Point (6/1) had one ordinary run over hurdles at Carlisle and was running well at Catterick but blew up. He improved with natural progression to win the Hogmaneigh Hurdle at Musselburgh beating Voix Du Reve on New Year’s Day and was a decent flat horse so it wasn’t a complete shock. Again, the handicapper hasn’t been too harsh on him so we’re hoping he’ll put up another good show.
2.40pm – Return Ticket
Return Ticket won a race similar to this, a 2m handicap chase, two starts ago at Musselburgh, beating Gaelik Coast. Sean Quinlan felt he didn’t get home over 2m4f the next time, hence the step back in trip. Obviously, he’s got plenty of weight to carry but he seems in good form and has been consistent all year so you’d be hopeful he’ll put up a good performance.
3.10pm – Three Castles
Three Castles has won around Musselburgh on the flat and on the best of his hurdle form he’d have a chance. The track and ground should be OK for him but he can be a bit quirky, so we’ve got to hope he’s in the right mindset tomorrow. He’s got loads of ability – he was going to win what worked out to be a decent juvenile when falling at the last so if he puts his best foot forwards he could be bang there.
3.45pm – Stay Humble
I’ve ridden Stay Humble (14/1) a few times before – he finished 2nd at Musselburgh last time out, in a Novice handicap chase, but the trip would be a worry for me. I’m not sure he’ll get 4m but if he does, you’d hope he runs well.
4.19pm – Federici
I’ve not ridden in a Hunter Chase before! Federici is a grand old boy – he’s won two chases this season, at Cartmel and Carlisle, had a pop around the Grand Sefton in December and has been a fantastic racehorse. He’s run over the Grand National fences five times now and will probably run in the Fox Hunters at Aintree in April.
He’s running against the likes of Alcala tomorrow who’s rated higher than him but he’s in good form at home. He just wouldn’t want any more rain now, the better the ground the better his chances.
*Odds correct at time of writing.