Review of runners at Aintree and Wetherby (Saturday)

Catch breath
Dali Mail ran a fine race in the competitive Class 3 handicap over Aintree's Mildmay course to finish 4th. This was his first try at 2m 4f (a step up for the gelding), so Callum Bewley waited with him in rear. Jumping well (but most do in this grade), he made good headway under Callum entering the bottom bend for the final time and was on the heels of the leading pair. But while he couldn't make any further inroads, he kept on from the last for 4th place. He's in fine form and has been dropped 3lb by the handicapper for that run.

Catch breath again
Straight onto the next race on the card - a Class 2 handicap hurdle. Eternally Yours may have been bottom weight but she travelled well on the outer, tracking the leading pair. Ridden along to take closer order by Blair Campbell, she disputed the lead after 2 out then our mare nudged in front and with 50 yards to go still held a slight advantage over Kateson. But in a head bobbing finish, Eternally Yours lost out by a nose. She's back to her best.....with more to come?
Up 2lb in handicap to OR124 for that run.

Deep sigh
Stainsby Girl had been in such good spirits beforehand (and she's still in good spirits this morning) that the manner of her defeat came as a bit of a blow to connections. After making the running she faded out of contention 2 out. Still, such things happen and we move on.

Kelso (Sunday) review

After a mixed Saturday, Sunday at Kelso (soft ground) offered only minor consolation for the yard.

Honda Fifty ran okay in finishing 4th in the 2 mile maiden hurdle without progressing as hoped from his initial outing at Carlisle last month. He will improve for better ground.

Paper Promise was very mulish as the tapes went up, and wasn't too keen to race. Young Tom Buckley had to roust the mare along so by the 3rd flight she was back on the bit on the outside, upsides the leading group. But the energy spent left her with no more to give 2 out. That leaves her with a lot to prove.

Our Elsie acquitted herself fairly well on debut in the 2m 5f mares novices hurdle.  She jumped well in the main (couple of novicey leaps) and was in touch till the push for home came after 3 out. She's coming along quite nicely and her future will be in handicap hurdles.

We're perplexed by Big Bad Dream these days. Hugely talented but he just will not let himself down to take a flight of hurdles in his stride.
In that respect, he did well to finish 5th on the staying novices handicap hurdle.