Our Hexham (Wednesday) runners

Advance going on the hurdles course at Hexham is soft, with further rain forecast, so it'll be extreme testing conditions at this undulating Northumberland card.
We have 2 runners, and Callum takes both rides.

Early start for us, as Baby Ticker runs in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle at 12.20.

Probably the most remarkable aspect of this race is that 3 horses are returning from long absences and each of these has the form to win a race such as this. Lucinda's Haul Us In and Celtic Flames plus Ewart's Un Guet Apens are the trio.
Eyecatchingly, Un Guet Apens has been dropped 17lb for no apparent reason and now has the assistance of Brian Hughes.......

Champagne Chaser won during the summer and seemed unlucky at Chepstow last time when leading then unseating at the last. Richard Johnson rides here.

A couple of others would seem to have a bit to find on recent form and you could argue that trait applies to Baby Ticker too. Certainly at 10 years of age she's not getting any younger and would need to find her best form of 18 months ago to win here. But, she ran a nice season's opener last time at Ayr and is well enough at home, so we hope she can be competitive.

Baby Ticker leading a couple of stable mates

After a fine debut run when runner up over hurdles at Ayr a month ago, Stainsby Girl attempts to go one better tomorrow at Hexham in the mares novices' hurdle over 2 miles at 1.20.
There are several horses making their hurdling debut, including the listed placed bumper filly from Jamie Snowden's yard, Legends Ryde. Course and distance winner Miah Grace sets a high standard and will start favourite having run an equally good race when runner up at Wetherby last time. And Sandy Thomson's Sophie Fatale will no doubt be fancied to put in a prominently display after finishing runner up over this course/distance in March.

All of the above horses have shown form on soft / heavy conditions, so it'll be quite a stern test for Stainsby Girl.

Stainsby Girl, chestnut mare, nearside of Dali Mail

Kelso on Sunday round-up

For one reason or another it was mid November at Wetherby when we last had a runner on the track.

There were 3 runners from Dodlands at Kelso last Sunday though, and in their own way we were very pleased with the respective performances.

We had hoped to run Paper Promise a month or so ago, but a slight nick jumping a hurdle when schooling (one, yes one, stitch required) set her back a couple of weeks. 6th place on her seasonal bow would seem passable at best, but she blew up 3 out and then stayed on again up the home straight.
That should just about set her right for her next run, maybe over a bit further.

Having had a couple of runs in novice hurdles previously, Danced Every Dance ran in quite a hot mares novice hurdle and we reckoned on obtaining a handicap mark in the low 90s afterwards. And that seemed to be the way things were panning out, as the main protagonists quickened 3 out and our mare didn't have enough toe to follow. However, Danced Every Dance's stamina kicked in from 2 out and she stayed on very well to be beaten just 6 lengths in 6th place. With the winner and second horse having BHA ratings of 119 and 117, we can just hope that the handicapper doesn't take this form literally when assessing the race.
Danced Every Dance ran her best race for us, and will have learned much for this run. Staying handicaps will now be on her agenda.

Saving the best for last, Big Bad Dream ran a fine race when 2nd in the staying handicap hurdle that closed the card. It was a severe test in the conditions and over half the field of 14 were pulled up. Turning for home there were a handful of horses still in with a chance, but the well handicapped, in-form Skyhill from our neighbour Alison Hamilton's yard was the clear cut winner. Big Bad Dream lost nothing defeat in failing to concede 21lbs in the handicap to the winner. It is hoped compensation is not too far away.