Saturday morning gallops

Four lots, fifteen horses, owners and gallop watchers scattered around the hillside - typical Saturday morning at Dodlands during the season then!

Lot 1

• Shadow Boxer (Lewis)
• Snapping Turtle (Matthew)
  Both horses did a nice piece of work on the woodchip gallop, coming up just the once. They are probably around a similar fitness level, and should be able to step up to doing two spins each morning in the next few days or so.
• Bollin Fiona, Ellistrin Belle and 'Achilles' were content with a gentle walk on the nearby lanes

Lot 2

• King Kalium (Ryan)
  Twice up today, King Kalium impressed as a horse that is looking and galloping in a stronger manner this autumn. And he's still only a 6yr old remember!
• Mini the Minx (Ross)
  This was Mini the Minx's first stint at tackling the uphill 5f gallop twice this season.
• Mia Matriarch (Matthew)
  Matthew held her up in behind 'Hector' and 'Spike' and she travelled smoothly in a single spin.
• Nodda High Kid (Kyle)
  The fitness level of our bumper winner is gradually improving. Unless off-colour, 'Hector' is a consistent sort in his morning work.
• Charlie Bucket (Lewis)
  A slow start for our handicap hurdler, but he is now in work and turning that summer fat into muscle. He'll probably stick to once-up for a couple of weeks yet

King Kalium (left) and Mini the Minx lead Charlie Bucket, Nodda High Kid and Mia Matriarch

Lot 3

• Yinfortheroad (Lewis)
  Just once-up this morning, but he'll have a stiffer piece of work on Sunday with Leith Walk. He may be entered in the bumper at Hexham next Saturday.
• 'Billy' (Kyle)
  Still slightly backward in his work, but is improving. We'll step him up to coming up twice in the next week or so.
• 'May' (Ryan)
  We'll give her a couple of more weeks on the gallops before packing her off for a rest to come back in for a racecourse debut in the spring. A strong filly, she's done everything we've asked of her thus far.
• 'Lilly' (Ross)
  She worked okay without showing that vital spark.
• 'Ben' (Matthew)
  We've been working hard on settling this gelding in his morning work, and the fruits of the work rider's labour showed today as he travelled smoothly in behind a couple of fellow unraced stablemates

'Lilly' and 'May' lead 'Ben'

Lot 4

• Leith Walk (Lewis)
  Worked well, and will have a stronger gallop with Yinfortheroad tomorrow
• Texas Tilly (Kyle)
  She's now back in regular work after we had to take it easy with her for a couple of weeks. Like her full brother (Nodda High Kid), she's a consistently fine worker.
• 'Chuckie' (Ryan)
  A workmanlike 3yr old gelding by Courteous, he is taking his work in his stride, and pleasing us a lot at the moment.

Leith Walk leads Texas Tilly as 'Chuckie' tucks in.