Monthly Archives: January 2020

Carrolls Milan hasn't run for some time but while she's so tough and hardy, it could just make a difference between her winning and being placed. She will be bang there on how she's been working.

Sheila Nash ran green on her debut at Wetherby. We are hopeful that this well-bred filly might show some improvement today.

Miss Austen needed some time off after her promising debut run at Taunton, with the sort of normal minor stress fracture that young jumping horses tend to get. She's fine now and while I'm not sure how much she's improved, she ought to be the one they have to beat.

Kemble's Cascade disappointed on his last run but was found to have a wind issue. He has now had this tinkered with and he is working very well at home. It is a warm race today but I would be very surprised if he wasn’t in the frame.

Polish is a nice horse from off the Flat. He works and jumps well but may possibly want quicker ground. The market principals look well established so it may be hard for him to get a place.

Illegal Model is a nice horse we've recently acquired from Ireland. Today will be a learning curve for him so he'll be better for the race. That said, apart from the top two in the market, it's not the greatest of races, so maybe he'll get somewhere in the money.

We think the world of Castle Rushen and when we take him home tonight he'll still be a lovely horse whatever the result. Obviously you have to take note of a Gordon Elliott runner, but our horse goes nicely and we hope there will be plenty of wins from him over the coming years, hopefully…

Noble Behest is in great form but on course debut he meets five rivals all with winning form on Fibresand. If he acts on it I'm sure he'll put in another determined display as you couldn't get a more genuine racehorse. I ought to mention though that his sire Sir Percy has dreadful stats on…

Delire D'Estruval didn't get the trip at Ascot but he's back on the course and distance where he won nicely before his break. Big chance.

He's a decent enough Flat horse who was taken off his feet at Huntingdon. He would prefer better ground and might be one to follow in the summer

Schiehallion Munro has already proved better over fences than hurdles. He is not favoured by today's race conditions but can make his chasing experience tell round Newcastle. I think we can beat the favourite.

Wot A Shot is well into the veteran stage but he won this race off 1lb lower in 2019. I wouldn't be surprised if coming back here rekindles his interest. Each-way chance.

Elios D'Or made his debut on the Newastle Tapeta recently and I thought he'd nearly win. Unfortunately the surface pulled him around and he lost a couple of shoes. Hopefully he'll go a lot better on grass today.

Petite Ganache didn't run too badly when a seven-length runner-up to Chanceanotherfive here recently. The winner has gone on to collect a chase in facile style but is 15lb worse with us today. Good chance on the revised weights.

High Noon ran better than his finishing position at Wetherby last time. He is a proper chasing type and he can go well at an each-way price.

Better Getalong ran a nice race at Haydock over the wrong trip and ground. They are fine for him today and I'm hopeful he will put in a good performance.

In his last two races Matewan has been a marginal runner-up to a couple of improvers. I believe a repeat performance in this decent contest could be good enough for him to get his head in front today.

Maroun is a very nice horse and we've been waiting for the better ground for him. It's probably still softer than ideal but as long as he doesn't get stuck in it, he's ready to go now and will take all the beating.

Things haven't been happening for Like The Sound this season - he fell at the first at Aintree - and he needs to get back on track. He stays very well and if he avoids accidents he could well get in the frame.

This former Irish point-to-point winner has been steadily coming together at home and we are now pleased with his work. He is a backward type but we still hope for a bold showing and expect him to be bang there.