Paper Roses placed at Kelso

Paper Roses put in a good performance at Kelso yesterday in the concluding bumper. A steady pace was set throughout by the eventual 1-2, and Paper Roses settled well at the back, making good progress up the inner from halfway to hold every chance 3f out.
The pace quickened markedly at this point, but Paper Roses was not quite able to match the first two and finished a creditable third to Scobie's Tokaramore and the Crawford's The Vocalist.

This was Paper Roses' third placed effort from 3 bumper runs, and we'll now press on with her schooling over hurdles and continue down that route. She runs as if she'll be suited by further than 2 miles in time.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

A bitterly cold morning, one of those days where the low temperature (~ 5 degrees) was made to feel even lower by a strong northerly wind.

There were 5 horses in the first lot which pulled out of the yard just after 8.30 am.  Callum rode The Buyer's Club purchase from last year, a Mountain High gelding ('Cliff'), who can be a bit lazy at times so was given a fairly vigorous 3 pieces of work on the Up the Middle gallop. Also working 3 times in this lot were Tomahawk Wood (Harris) and Bollin Julie (Garry) - both are nearing a run and went well.
Making up the numbers (physically, not literally) were the Definite Article gelding 'Arthur, ridden by Kingy who is gradually stepping up his workload. 'Arthur' doesn't carry much condition, so it's a delicate balance as the team improve his fitness but taking care not to knock back progress in any way.
Also doing two stints of work was Baby Ticker (Aidan), who is quite fit having run at Carlisle last weekend, so just needs to be kept sweet.

Tomahawk Wood (Harris) leads Baby Ticker (Aidan) and 'Arthur' (Kingy)

Quick turnaround for the work riders, and six horses made up Lot 2 who each did a couple of spins on the gallop, with our Beneficial filly 'Katie' (Garry) and Snapping Turtle (Harris) doing an extra gallop. Snapping Turtle will probably head for a staying handicap hurdle at Newcastle on Friday.
Shades of Midnight has come out of his Carlisle race in fine fettle, and a tilt at a Grade 2 race at Newbury at the end of this month is being considered. Goodnight Percy (Sarah) who has a juvenile hurdle at Hexham in about 10 days time pencilled in, 'Zidane' our grey gelding who continues to do everything that's asked of him with ease and was ridden by his regular weekend pilot Kingy, and Hartforth (Aidan) were also part of this morning exercise group.

'Shady'  (Callum), leads Hartforth (Aidan), Snapping Turtle (Harris), 'Zidane' (Kingy) and Goodnight Percy (Sarah) and the hidden 'Katie'

Final lot of the morning also worked twice on the Up the Middle, and this comprised of 'Sid', 'Brooke' and Keyboard Gangster.