Racing round-up from the last 4 weeks

A few runs to catch up on from the last month or so. Some promising runs, a few placed efforts and a welcome winner.
In reverse chronological order -

A nice winner from one of our youngsters at Ayr on Monday (2nd January), details of So Many Roads success can be found here.
 
But also at Ayr on the same day, Enemy At The Gate returned to the track after 15 months on the sidelines. This gelding had made an encouraging start to his hurdling career when running a nice race last October (2021) at Carlisle when 8th to Harper's Brook over 2m 4f. 6 of the 7 horses in front of Enemy At The Gate that day have won subsequently so it was heartbreaking for connections that he required some recuperation from a subsequent leg strain.
So, the Ayr race, over 2 miles, was an ideal opportunity to ease Enemy At The Gate back into the swing of things. Settled towards the rear by Craig, he jumped well enough but wasn't able to close on the leading group when asked for an effort 4 out. Still, he did keep on to the line and has shown no ill effects in the yard since, so we'll look for a handicap hurdle over a bit further in a month or so.

On New Years Day itself, Maid of Houxty (Theo Gillard) ran in the 3m 2f handicap chase at Catterick and was again placed. That 4th place effort was not quite as good as her previous 2nd place at Kelso so the mare does have a bit to find to bounce back next time. But there will be plenty opportunities over the coming weeks to get her nose in front.

On 29th December at Kelso, the yard had 4 runners with the 4th place finish by Nights In Venice (Danny McMenamin) being the best of these. In this Class 3 2m 6½f event, Danny had our gelding up with the pace from the off, leading into the home straight and he only faded away late on.
He fared the best of those racing prominently and, as a quite a robust gelding, he may have been in need of this race after being held up in his work slightly by the recent cold spell.
A Class 4 race over a staying trip in the next 2 or 3 weeks would seem to be ideal, now off a rating of OR102.

On the same day, a couple of horses ran in the 2 mile novice hurdle but as is the ever increasing norm these days there was quite a gulf between the three at the head of the market - and who filled the places - and the remainder of the field. The race divided into two groups almost from the off, with Gie It Laldy (Callum Bewley) - on hurdling debut - acquitting himself reasonably until fading in the home straight. He looks the type to be suited by a sounder surface.
Cowboy Cooper (Craig) was also waited with in the second group and made an effort to close 3 out but on the testing ground, he couldn't find the necessary pace to make any impression. He now has a handicap mark of OR87 and will embark upon a handicap career, probably over middle distances initially.

And finally from Kelso, Ellistrin Star (Craig) ran in the 2m 6½f novice hurdle. On debut, and in very testing conditions, in touch to 3 out but unable to make any further impression.

Shoeshine Boy (Lewis Dobb) ran a cracker at Wetherby on the 27th when runner up in the 3 mile Class 5 Conditional Jockeys' handicap hurdle, beaten just over 1 length by the winner. He's been improving all season and this was probably his best run over hurdles to date. A well related sort, an inexpensive purchase, Shoeshine Boy has proven to be a tremendous fun horse for Mousetrap Racing, just once out of the first 3 since turning to handicap hurdles. He was actually travelling easily 3 out here, and may have been another for whom the cold spell did no favours.
Predictably (?), the handicapper has upped his mark by 2lb to OR100, but he wouldn't be the type to necessarily be suited to carrying big weights so it'll be back to Class 4 for this lad. Shouldn't be too long before he re-appears.

Boxing Day at Newcastle on soft ground, where we had a couple of horses seeking experience, or more experience, of racing. Eden Mill (David England) finished in mid division (6th) in the 18 runner 2m 4½f handicap hurdle. He started off in rear, and made some progress down the back straight for the second time but although keeping on, couldn't get near the leaders.  He may be suited by racing more prominently but as we've seen with So Many Roads, these 0-100 handicap hurdles can be rough affairs so it's not wise to get too involved from the get-go with young, immature horses. He's been dropped 3lb (OR79) and is entered at Ayr on Monday (9th January) over 2 miles.
Houxty Reiver (John Kington) gained experience in making his debut in the concluding race on the card, a bumper. The rain had got into the ground by then, and like several others, she was well-held in the end but will benefit for this race. We would hope she could go closer on a less demanding surface.

Just before the Christmas break, Eternally Yours (Theo Gillard) competed in the 2m 4½f Class 3 handicap hurdle at her favourite racecourse, Ayr. She was in the process of running her best race for years when crashing out at the last, just clipping the top bar. Having led, or disputed the lead until that point, she was one of four horses challenging over the last and still held every chance. Horse and jockey were quickly on their feet and our mare trotted out fine in the morning.
We'll look for something similar in the next 3 or 4 weeks.

That just leaves Ayr on 29th November outstanding as far as our racing reviews are concerned. (Memo to web team - get your finger out!).
The aforementioned Nights In Venice (Henry Brooke) made his seasonal debut over 2m 4½f (Class 4) and, apart from uncharacteristically trying to jink left as he approached a flight of hurdles, acquitted himself in an okay fashion. Jumping well at the head of affairs, he weakened from 2 out where his lack of a previous outing looked to take its toll. Henry was quite impressed with the gelding's jumping nonetheless, and suggested a switch to novice chasing would suit the now 7yr old.

To end on a bright note, bumper debutant Both Barrels ran very well to finish 3rd beaten just 3 lengths. Young Lewis Dobb has given several of our horses excellent rides recently and this was no exception. Held up , he made his move turning for home and was conjuring up a nice finishing effort but ran green at a vital stage (looked about a bit) before running on again close home. Not beaten far.
Having now turned 5, he'll be a nice sort over hurdles but given this run we may decide another run or two in bumpers would be beneficial.

The main protagonists (l to r) : So Many Roads, Maid of Houxty, Nights In Venice and Both Barrels