Seasonal debut for Hartforth tomorrow

Aintree hosts a fine 2-day card of National Hunt racing this weekend, and we're really looking forward to being there with Hartforth tomorrow.

 This'll be his first race of the season, and really ours as well if you exclude a couple of our string who were in during the summer. I mean, Hartforth will give us a yardstick as to how far forward the horses are compared to other trainers, so we'll know the score come tomorrow night.
Hartforth did win over 3 miles on good ground on his first race over hurdles last season, but he'd had a couple of pipe openers on the level beforehand so we're not comparing apples with apples this time around.

 You know we find the Racing Post Ratings (RPR) an invaluable guide to our horses' form throughout the season. Hartforth's last run at Ayr last season when finishing 3rd to Ulzana's Raid and Quickasyoucan was a personal best (RPR 115), and from that race the first two plus another behind our gelding have come out and won since. Still, tomorrow is quite a competitive race, and on this tight hurdle track, Hartforth may just get outpaced down the back for the final time.

Either way, we're sure the Brave Lads will enjoy the occasion! Good luck.

Hartforth (Kingy) and Bollin Julie (Harris) tracked by Belle (Garry)