Mid seasons reflections

Mid season for the 2019-20 National Hunt sphere but it's a bit skewed for us here at Dodlands Steading as our first runner was just in early November.
But, we've taken stock and reflected on our NH performance thus far in the knowledge that we'd like to think our horses will be running through until early May.

Anyway, apart from too many second places, we're fairly happy with the performances and you can read our mid season article right here.

Entries this week

This can be a hectic time of year - in the nicest possible way - and looking through the next few days we have 3 horses entered up. Exact declaration plans will be decided the day before but until then here's a list.

Ayr on Thursday 2nd January

Big Bad Dream holds an entry in the extended 3m handicap hurdle at 1 o'clock. He ran well last time at Kelso when runner up and this 3 miles will be the furthest he's gone. It's a 0-110 rated race (Big Bad Dream's mark is 106) and we'd like to think he's in with a chance but it already has a competitive look about it.

A couple of races later on in the card, Eternally Yours is likely to take her chance in the 2m 5f 0-140 handicap hurdle. Even at this stage the horse that catches the eye is high-class Grade 2 bumper winner Portrush Ted who has been off of over a year but may be thrown in here off OR131. Eternally Yours has been off the track for longer than intended since her seasonal reappearance in early November and should be better for the race.

One of two possible races for Lady Villanelle is the bumper here at the end of the card. We like this daughter of Shantou and hope for a nice run, but it's hard to gauge the standard of the opposition even more so at the 4 day stage. A nice filly though.

Musselburgh on Friday 3rd January

Lady Villanelle (see above) is entered in the bumper here too. She's done everything asked of her at home and will progress for racecourse experience, so I'd like to think she'll take up the entry at either of the two Scottish venues this week.

All the best for 2020!

Wishing you, and those closest, all the very best for 2020.