Julie heads down to Newcastle tomorrow

Bollin Julie is off down the road (about an hour's drive) to Newcastle tomorrow (Saturday) to contest the 2m 6f handicap hurdle. We've been happy enough with her morning work in the last couple of weeks, and she has won at the course but she has got a wee bit to prove on the track plus we think she might just still need this race.
That said, we hope that she can be competitive and that connections enjoy the day at the races.

Of her 10 opponents, recent form has been a bit in and out but most could put up a winning case on best form.

The lightly raced Oscar's Prospect has a progressive profile but this is her first handicap outing, upped in trip (should suit) and first encounter with soft ground over hurdles.
A couple have shown eye-catching bumper form, George's Gray's Choice and Chris Grant's Countdown but have yet to show much over hurdles. You get the feeling that it is only a matter of time with Gray's Choice, whilst Brian Hughes has been booked to ride Countdown whose hurdle form consists of 3 unsighted novice hurdle runs in Ireland a couple of years ago. Connections won't have persevered with this Monsun gelding without good reason......
And down at the foot of the handicap, and 9lb wrong at the weights, is McGinty's Dream, another with a progressive profile although at a modest level. He'll be suited by a step up in trip, and could run well at a big price for Fife trainer Nick Alexander.

Goodknight Percy is retired

It just wasn't to be for the young, good natured gelding. A couple of runs in juvenile hurdles did put too much strain on his body and he has been retired by his owners The Potassium Partnership.

He's now safely entrenched in his new home in nearby Denholm, where no doubt he'll lead the life of Riley!

Goodknight Percy settling in well at his new home