Duo head down to Newcastle tomorrow

Baby Ticker looks to make amends for her last racecourse appearance (veering right, race at mercy) tomorrow at Newcastle in the Mares' handicap hurdle over 2 miles, where she faces 4 opponents.
She has been raised 9lb by the handicapper for officially unseating rider, and takes a step up in grade tomorrow. She (and her dam) have run well on testing conditions previously, so we go into the race with bright prospects of success. Verona Opera, if fully recovered from Sunday's exertions when 5th in a classier handicap at Leopardstown, and the progressive Floramoss, may be the duo to provide stern opposition.

Dali Mail, our 4 year old gelding, makes his debut in the bumper on the same card. We've had mixed success (?) with our young bumpers his season - a couple of third places to date - so we're looking to Dali Mail to run a nice race and provide encouragement for the future.
The standard of the race is quite high, judged on form horses, and pedigree of the unraced youngsters.
Obvious favourite is Skelton's Al Shahir who has already finished runner up in two bumpers.
Of the unraced horses, The Dandy Don's Ballasalla, a e70,000 purchase, is a full brother to National winner Ballabriggs, Nicky Richards' Anywaythewindblows (by Shirocco), a e45,000 sales graduate, is a half brother to 4 winners and from a very good flat family.
Fahey's Judge Earl is a rare bumper runner for the stable these day, but is stoutly bred from the family of Night In Milan.
Wig Wam Wiggle, a son of Mahler from the family of The Bajan Bandit, is a half brother to a couple of winners, while Mathayus is a half brother to a bumper winner and a French 1m 3f winner.

Phew! Not to feel out of place, and in the nick of time, Dali Mail's year older half brother (Chez Castel Mail) was an easy winner of the bumper at Fontwell today.

Best of luck to all connections.

 
Dali Mail (grey, Kingy) and Baby Ticker (Garry)

Promising run from Night Comes In at Ayr

Night Comes In ran 6th in his bumper at Ayr today, displaying a good deal of promise for the future. It didn't appear to be a race with a great deal of depth to it in terms of quality, so we're taking a relatively realistic view of the level of form of the race.

Our gelding was fairly prominent throughout but ran quite green as the leaders entered the home straight for the final time. He was still running green, but in contention, over 1 furlong from home, before weakening into 6th, beaten 10 lengths.
There's no doubt he'll be suited by better ground, and is sure to come on for the experience.

A nice horse.

 
Night Comes In (Milky)