Hexham Wednesday, with a couple of our mares

With large parts of Britain under severe lockdown, it feels quite a privilege to be able to continue to go racing. Under strict but very necessary restrictions with limited opportunities for owners to attend, compared to most business owners, we're well aware how very lucky Horse Racing (as an elite sport) is at present.
Extensive coverage by the two devoted racing channels helps enormously, and we hope we are able to bring some small cheer to those most affected.

This pandemic......
Still, there are signs that green shoots of recovery emerged this week with positive news of vaccines.

Anyway, The Trainer heads off down to Hexham on Wednesday morning with a couple of our mares.

While Lady Villanelle couldn't follow up the promise of her opening bumper run of last season when runner up to Manorbank at Kelso, at Newcastle next time, she remains a mare held in some regard by the stable. She schooled well at the back-end of last season and has again in recent weeks.

She makes her hurdling debut over 2 miles at Hexham (1.55pm) on Wednesday with Callum Bewley in the saddle.

The clear one to beat is Kinneston Nick's Blazing Port who had useful bumper form for Tristan Davidson last season and started off his jumping career with a fine second over course and distance a few weeks ago.
Scobie runs the relatively experienced Nyoufsea who has shown positive signs of ability in two bumpers and two recent hurdle outings this season. He would be expected to be in contention for a place.
There have been varying levels of ability and promise shown by the remainder of the field but this is very early days for those setting out on a jumping career.

Lady Villanelle would be better suited to 2m 4f, but she's been ready to race for a couple of weeks and this Hexham race will give her a nice opportunity to gain an introduction to jumping. We hope she can jump round safely and if she is there or thereabouts at the top of the hill turning for home, maybe be in final shake up.

Best of luck to TD9 Racing - Greg, Ian, John and Wee Davie - and their sponsors The Borders Distillery.

Lady Villanelle (Laura) leads a couple of stable companions

And what a race to close the card.......

Danced Every Dance takes her place in the Class 5 0-100 17 runner handicap hurdle at 3.40pm. This mare races off a mark of OR97 which makes her the lowest rated horse in the yard at present......turn the clock back 15 years and she would have been among the top-rated!

But, Danced Every Dance has a bit to prove after she finished last season with a couple of below par efforts, so we shall see how she goes here.

Stuart Coltherd's in form 4 year old Dequall will be fancied to follow up his course and distance win here last month, while the ex-Irish Cold Shoulder and Golan Cloud look to be improving and shouldn't be far away.
At the top end of the handicap Kinneston Nick's Silk or Scarlet (like Cold Shoulder dropped in class) returns after a long lay off. If stripping fit after a near 2 year absence he could spring a surprise.

Wee Davie is involved with Danced Every Dance as well as Lady Villanelle, so again good luck to him and Blair Campbell who comes in for the ride.

Danced Every Dance (Laura)