Review of Ayr yesterday

First of our 2 runners at Ayr's card yesterday was Big Bad Dream in the 2½ mile maiden hurdle.
He finished 7th in the end, beaten a fair way but had jumped well until tiring entering the home straight. There are occasions when seeing a horse in the paddock pre-race amongst his opposition can put a different perception on things. He looked quite big, and certainly ran in the race as if a little undercooked.
He's a stuffy sort at home, and hasn't appeared as this early in previous seasons, so we're not looking too far for who's to blame! He'll strip fitter next time for sure, and we'll also look for better ground.

Eternally Yours fared better in the mares handicap hurdle over the same distance an hour later. Continual rain had turned the going to heavy (almost unthinkable a week ago), but this looked a competitive contest pre-race and our mare is an inexperienced hurdler taking in only her second race over timber.
Callum held her up in rear and she was travelling and jumping well by halfway although some 20 lengths off the leader (and eventual winner) Bon Chic. After jumping 4 out (last in the back straight), Eternally Yours made good headway and was tracking the leaders at 3 out, and went hammer and tong with Bon Chic after 2 out. But Jimmy Moffat's tough mare Bon Chic, a useful hurdler, won the battle on the run-in to win by a neck.

Excellent start to the season, and she had a good blow afterwards. We'll make sure she recovers and will sit down in the next few days to look through the racing calendar for her next opportunity - although she'll probably go up 2-3 lbs.............

Eternally Yours (Pinky, left) and Big Bad Dream (The Jockey)

Next runners?

Britain is not that big a country, but you'd never have guessed it from a racing perspective with going descriptions at our northern racecourses.

Ayr was heavy yesterday - although of a 'wet' nature rather than 'hock-deep', but Newcastle tomorrow is good / good to firm in places. And this seems to be the case all down the east coast - Musselburgh, Hexham, Sedgefield would all seem to be struggling to provide any ease in the ground in the next fortnight. And with dry weather forecast, the future is not bright so to speak.

So, apologies to all but we just can't take the chance with either Paper Promise or Dali Mail at Newcastle tomorrow.

Paper Promise (Georgina)