Hartforth beaten but not disgraced....

Our fine handicap hurdler took his chance in the Class 2 handicap hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday, and wasn't disgraced in finishing 4th. A criminally slow pace for ¾s of the race was a surprise for a race at this level, and we know that Hartforth acts well on soft (as opposed to Saturday's good ground). He remains in good heart, and we'll aim for soft ground again before the season's out. 

...and Julie tries again tomorrow

We'd quite fancy Bollin Julie at Newcastle tomorrow, as the trip and going should be ideal.

There's a fly in the ointment in the form of the favourite and best handicapped horse in the UK - Tim Vaughn's Be Bop Boru. After showing fine bumper form just over a year ago, he ran well down the field in 3 novice hurdle races, for which the BHA allocated OR84. He duly trotted up 6 days ago, and reappears tomorrow carrying a 7lb penalty making him 10lb 'well in'.

A certainty, but Julie should run well all the same.