Weekend racing review

Four runners at Musselburgh and Carlisle over the weekend and although a couple of 4th places were returned there were promising performances from two of the younger horses in the yard, while two of the handicap hurdling mares had runs to blow away the cobwebs. 

Four days of rain had the dramatic effect on the Musselburgh going in turning it to good to soft (!), and Craig (Nichol) felt that Stainsby Girl was rushed off her feet early on in the 2m handicap hurdle. The pace did ease off into the back straight but chasing the worthy winner for a mile and a half took its toll on our mare and by 2 out she was a tired horse. She finished well beaten in 4th.
Stainsby Girl was blowing quite hard in the paddock afterwards so we hope that she can come on for the race. Kindness from the handicapper on Tuesday would help of course, but we might look for a suitable race over 2½ miles next.

Fourth place was also where our other runner on the day finished but in more dramatic fashion. 4yr old youngster Eden Mill was lobbing along in front of the 5 runner bumper when jinking right as they passed the winning post first time. Callum (Bewley) stayed intact but lost an iron as Eden Mill took off down the back straight into a clear lead but uncontrollable until the jockey regained his footing a couple of furlongs later.
Restrained to race upside his rivals, Eden Mill still had a chance approaching the furlong marker but his earlier exertions told and he had no more to give.
Just beaten 6 lengths, he looked the standout horse in the paddock and would surely have gone close but for running green. Another very nice prospect for Fyffe & Bewley.

Enemy At The Gate, Eden Mill, Stolen Money

Enemy At The Gate picked a hot division of the novice hurdle at Carlisle on Sunday in which to make his seasonal debut. Dropped in by Billy Garrity, he jumped really well in the 2½ mile contest and made steady headway after 4 out to be on the heels on the leading group. Not quite able to match the quickening pace thereafter, he kept on to finish in 8th place beaten 20 lengths.
A good looking sort by the late Fame and Glory, this run gives lots to look forward to this season in staying handicaps. He'll need one more run to qualify for a handicap mark.

Our intended runner in the 2m handicap hurdle was slightly lame when we reached the racecourse and after a veterinary inspection was declared a non runner. Honda Fifty will be closely monitored this week and we hope he's back soon.

Eternally Yours raced in a group just behind the leaders in the Class 2 2m 4f handicap hurdle but dropped away quite suddenly after 5 out. A bit alarming but she then picked up in the home straight to come through beaten horses into 5th of the 9 runners. Still a fair bit off the front 3 but maybe her last effort here in February when pulled up was on her mind.

So, maybe our handicappers will need the run this season and we look forward to Hexham on Friday and Kelso, Saturday, for our next venture to the track.
Happy couple of days, see you Friday.