Kelso Monday review

Yes, another 2nd place for Dodlands Steading but, really, we couldn't be more delighted with the runner up effort from Lady Villanelle in the bumper at Kelso yesterday.

We'd mentioned in our race preview that we thought a lot of our Shantou filly but also that the race contained several youngsters who were held in high regard by their stables. In the end it was one of these types - Manorbank - that won the race by 4 lengths from Lady Villanelle with the favourite Sol de Mayo a long looking 23 lengths back in 3rd.
The winning owner, and friend of the stable (that'll be former friend - Ed) Rob Bewley actually had Manorbank in training at Dodlands for a few weeks last Spring so we did have an inkling of the talent we were taking on here in the bumper.
Lady Villanelle wouldn't have the size of the other geldings in the field but she's a nice athletic type and travelled smoothly with the protagonists throughout. And when the battle for victory started for real 2 furlongs from home, she was the only one challenging the winner and kept on well inside the final furlong.

Yet to have a bumper winner this season, but stable form from 4 individual runners is 0222..........

Anyway, a really nice introduction and, for sure, a mares' bumper will be on the horizon after a break. We're in no rush though, as she's a very promising mare for the jumping game.

 
A couple of happy TD9 Racing owners greet their heroine post race

Tuesday runners at Newcastle

Please note - there is an 8am inspection here due to the threat of sub-zero overnight temperatures.
Anyway, onto our race-day thoughts.................

After her run here last time, we had Paper Promise checked out and found that she was suffering from a low grade viral infection.
That has been cleared up quickly, so we head back to the Newcastle track for the 2 mile handicap hurdle, a Northern Lights Mares' Hurdle Qualifier which is the first on a 7-race card at 1.10.

After winning a couple of bumpers, Paper Promise has yet to show the same sparkle over hurdles although she did win over course and distance in March last year. She is rated OR106 and you'd think she'd be up to winning this sort of handicap at some stage in her career. Soft ground should suit.
In opposition today though there are several in-form, if possibly exposed, horses like Princess Mononoke, Ilaya, Southeast Rose, She'sasupermack and Lady Kyria. Well, to be honest, most of the runners are but watch out for Lucinda's dark horse Methodtothemadness.

A tight handicap, but we think our mare has a sound chance of victory..............famous last words lol.

Banks O'Houxty ran a fine race when runner up to Lemon T last time and is another to return to Newcastle, this time reverting to 2 miles when he contests the novice hurdle at 2.40.
This will be Bill & Carol Aitchison's 10 year old gelding's 3rd run in a novice hurdle and all being well he should get a handicap mark allocated next Tuesday.
The two at the head of the market would seem obvious contenders, and both have similar profiles - Olly Murphy's Endlessly and Thomson's Off The Beat. Winning on their second run over hurdles, quite a big leap forward in form and each give away 7lb (more to the mare) to the rest of the field.
Foxey, Ewart's hurdling debutant, had only fair bumper form but could improve for jumps.

Callum is in the saddle for both rides and good luck to all connections.

 
Banks O'Houxty (Pinky) leads Paper Promise (Leah)