Mid Week Gallops

Regular reports from the gallops have been few and far this season. as you know, win, lose or draw we do love to show off our horses in work especially as improved fitness permeated the string from November onwards.
Mid March to mid May was non existent for National Hunt in 2020, and the dry weather has thwarted plans for a few back end of the season runners from Dodlands Steading. A couple of the string (Maid of Houxty and Stolen Money) have already been roughed off but we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place - racecourse ground is too fast and summer pastures need rain to encourage grass growth as well.
So, most of the string are being kept in regular daily exercise - that rain may just come - but it gives us a chance to focus on some of the unraced and less experienced youngsters that will be running next season.

Wednesday morning, with 7 work riders to choose from, there were 3 main lots. A misty start and it was only during Lot 2 that the sun burnt it's way through.
Lovely day thereafter though....

Oh, and there is an amateurish video of Lot 3 that we've included. More in the style of French thriller 'Spiral' than Sam Mendes........

Lot 1

Half a dozen of the string out first thing on a still misty Dodlands gallop.
After a brisk canter up the gallop, second time up two pair of the gallop did faster pieces of work.

Hexham (Monday) bumper entrants Enemy At The Gate (Garry) worked with Undecided (Zoe), while at a slightly lesser tempo a couple of unraced geldings came up together - Multiplex gelding (Callum) and a gelding by Jet Away (Connor).
Our Percy (Leah) and Baby Ticker (Shay) completed the gallop at a steady pace.

Enemy At The Gate leads Our Percy, Undecided, the grey Multiplex gelding and the Jet Away gelding

Lot 2

Just a couple of Lot 2 paired for work, conducted at a fairly steady pace. Lady Villanelle (Laura) is a possible for Perth next week but there would really have to be a bit of give in the ground. Anyway she completed a couple of spins with Neigh Botha (Callum), a 4 year old gelding by Doyen.

Three others in the lot are all fairly fit horses who were are just keeping ticking over. As this dry spell continue, it is increasingly unlikely that they will run again this season - Eternally Yours (Leah), Honda Fifty (Connor) and Stainsby Girl (Zoe).

Right to left - Honda Fifty, a Doyen gelding, Lady Villanelle, Eternally Yours and in rear Stainsby Girl

Lot 3

Kinerton Hill (Connor) just did a gentle canter as he had just run on Sunday, but the remainder came up-the-middle a couple of times at a steady pace.

'Marcus' (Callum) a gelding by Frammassone lead his stablemates followed by a couple of 5 year old bumper horses in Nights In Venice (Zoe) and Shoeshine Boy (Laura) with Bonny Houxty (Shay) keeping the 4 year old Passing Glance filly Ellistrin Star (Leah) company.

Our Frammassone gelding leads the chestnut Nights In Venice, Shoeshine Boy followed by Ellistrin Star and Bonny Houxty

Kelso last Sunday

Couple of runners last Sunday at Kelso.

Kinerton Hill was always in the rear in the 2m 2f novice hurdle, and Craig reported afterwards that he just couldn't quite match the pace of the leading group on ground that was as fast as we had encountered this season. Still, his jumping had improved from his Hexham run but still not always fluent.

He's a likeable sort and one to look out for next season when the going eases, probably over a staying trip.

Big Bad Dream is as enthusiastic as ever in the mornings and works well but he seems to have fallen out of love with racing.
It happens.....
He'll be retired and will find a good home.

And finally.....

Many have accused local Hawick man Mark 'Mouse' Young as being 1-dimensional......But not us!

This Master Plumber, CEO of The Buyers Club and bloodstock adviser for Mousetrap Racing added another string to his bow when stepping in to fill a void left by fellow owner and joiner-to-trade Fozo.
With the imminent arrival of a couple of young horses to the yard, 'Mouse' constructed a couple of temporary enclosures at the bottom of the yard to serve as boxes to house these youngsters for a couple of weeks.

And if we were welcoming visitors to the yard, we are sure they would be standing back in admiration of his efforts.

Two youngsters very much at home thanks to 'Mouse' Young