Carlisle tomorrow

Our initial fears (see news item of 27th October) were allayed, so both Baby Ticker (in the opening novices' hurdle) and Shades of Midnight (in the Class 2 handicap hurdle) will be loaded in the van tomorrow morning to make the short trip down to Carlisle racecourse.

Baby Ticker faces some opponents who have shown a good level of form to date whether Under Rules or in the Point-to-Point arena. Her future lies in handicap hurdles and 'Baby' should benefit from the several bouts of intensive schooling recently - well, fine in theory but this can only be proven in the sometimes hectic confines of novice hurdling. She will improve for the run, either way.

Strictly on the formbook, 'Shady' faces quite a stiff task on his seasonal reappearance. Lucinda's Island Heights has a 25lb pull for a 2l beating when both horses filled the minor placings behind Baywing at Haydock in January (over 2m 7f). Running off top weight of 11st 12lb, Shady has to give 8lb to Ellison's Definitely Red - useful chaser these days - but is a graded hurdle winner in 2015.
The undoubted eyecatchers are a couple of lightly raced, novices of last season from the big southern yards of Skelton and Hobbs.  Best of the pair may be the Skelton's Walking In The Air.

So it's quite a competitive event first time up, but you've got to start somewhere. Shades of Midnight is looking well, and is as fit as we can get him at this time of the season, but will come on for the run.

Our two protagonists at Carlisle tomorrow - Shades of Midnight tracking Baby Ticker

Introducing Sarah and Aidan

A bit late, as both Sarah Brown and Aidan Redpath have been working at Dodlands Steading now for a couple of months, but you can read their short profile by following this link.

Sarah (on Snapping Turtle) leads Aidan (Tomahawk Wood)