Thoughts post Ayr yesterday

Sometimes you've just got to give credit to the winner........

Paper Roses ran a blinding race yesterday at Ayr finishing second to a well handicapped, fit from flat, Brian Hughes ridden (okay, we get the message - ed) Attention Seaker, going down by 5 lengths with the pair pulling clear from the field 2 out.
We did think the mare would need the race - suppose in some ways she actually did - but Paper Roses has built on her fine second at Perth at the back end of last season. She remains a maiden - there can't be too many more higher rated maiden mares in the North - but is genuine as the day is long, now her jumping is showing consistency.
She is qualified for the final of the Northern Lights Mares Series to be held at Carlisle in early December, and it's very tempting to be part of the Finals of this excellent set of races held this year for the first time under a new initiative from the BHA.
We'll see how she comes out of this race. and take it from there. Needless to say, all connections were over the moon after her performance today!

Paper Roses leads a couple of stablemates

In a small way, Side of the Road pleased us too with her run in 5th place in the novices' hurdle an hour or so prior to Paper Roses' event. She may have been a wee bit flattered by the finishing position - both the favourite and 3rd fav fell four out - but this was an improved run from the well-bred mare. She loved the soft ground and jumped much better than her debut hurdles outing at Perth in April (going was good).
Again, we'll see how she comes out of the race over the next week, but another novice event on soft ground is on the cards and she should then get her BHA handicap mark.

With Shades of Midnight's chase debut on Monday, the stable has enjoyed a week full of promise on the racecourse and hopefully we can start to get among the winners in the next month or two.

Side of the Road