Lots to cover in this bumper news update with reviews from Hexham (Friday) and Kelso (Saturday) plus two runners at Carlisle (Monday).

Stainsby Girl wins at Hexham

While we knew that Stainsby Girl was in very good health, we try to keep a lid on her effervescent style of running (she can pull hard) and never let her down fully on work mornings. Up against a formidable opponent (133-rated Rayna's World) at level weights, we hoped she could give a good account of herself.

But this race was an outstanding success for our mare. Brain Hughes, on his first ride for the stable, settled the chestnut off in front where she jumped well throughout. At the top of the hill turning for home, the strong staying Rayna's World was closing in along with Lucinda's debutant West End Lady.
But a superb leap at the last sent our girl a couple of lengths up, and she held on well when challenged on the run-in.

It's unusual for our yard to get off the mark so quick (only our second runner) and this was most welcome. Stainsby Girl may find life a bit more difficult in handicaps as she's not a big filly by any means. But if she can continue to progress, who knows?

Er, smiles all round. Georgina leads in Stainsby Girl (Brian Hughes) with The Trainer close up

Big Bad Dream runner up at Kelso

Big Bad Dream may well have a chasing career in front of him this season, but he started his season in a handicap hurdle at Kelso on Saturday. Low sun meant a couple of hurdles in the home straight were omitted each circuit (meaning 6 in total) but the underfoot conditions of good to soft did suit our horse. You know Big Bad Dream can race lazily on occasion but there is no debating his ability.

And so it proved in this race.

Callum Bewley had to push and cajole the gelding most of the way. But that paid off, and while he had no chance with the clear winner Leostar (well done, Brother Ali) he did keep on in the long run-in to secure the runner up berth.

We hope this sets Big Bad Dream up for the season.

Big Bad Dream on the right with Danced Every Dance

Carlisle tomorrow with Honda Fifty and Dali Mail

Heavy ground at Carlisle on Monday afternoon and we head down the A7 with a couple of runners who shouldn't be inconvenienced by these testing conditions.

In the opening maiden hurdle over 2m 1f, Honda Fifty makes his debut over timber. Runner up in all of his three bumper races, this 6 year old Arakan gelding was beaten a nose in each of the last two, so he is due a change of luck this season.
He has schooled well, but we know by now jumping in a competitive race with all the noise and commotion can be a different ball game....so to speak.

Bass Rock has some good form to his name in each of his two hurdle races - last summer in France and just last month over course and distance. He sets a very good standard but will face competition from Ben Pauling's hurdling debutant, the ex Mick Channon 90-rated Severance.

Another couple of jumping debutants with winning bumper form are headed by Ewarts' ex-Gordon Elliott bumper winner The Caretaker who has since undergone a wind op while a more attractive bumper profile is presented by Greatrex's Wellntyne, who has winning form on soft.
The list of likely contenders is completed by McCain's Word Has It, with improvement likely on his second hurdle run.

Fascinating race, and we hope for a nice run from our gelding and would like to see him jump round safely. Blair Campbell comes in for the ride.

Later in the card Dali Mail runs in the feature race, the 2 mile Graduation Chase. This is our gelding's 4th run in a chase, having won in impressive style on his first outing at Newcastle last December. A couple of subsequent runs were not quite as good but he's in good health and schooled well last week.

But this is a cracking race headed by Grade 1 chase winner Esprit du Large. Evan Williams' No Risk at All gelding ran just last Tuesday in Exeter's Haldon Gold Cup but fell 5 out. He makes a quick reappearance here and will start favourite but has to eradicate his jumping errors.
Old foe of the yard, Whoshotthesheriff receives weight allowances from Dali Mail and Esprit Du Large, and this useful hurdler has already made a promising chase debut when runner up over course and distance last month. A live chance.
Last season's classy, staying novice hurdler Kiltealy Bridge makes his chase debut here. He may go well, but the trip is way short of his best.

It's hard to make a winning case for either Ming Dynasty or Ain't My Fault in this grade but both will be more competitive in future handicaps.

Callum Bewley is in the saddle and good luck to both him and Zidane Partnership owners Nicola and John Mackin.

Dali Mail (Callum) working with Honda Fifty (Garry)