Racing update

On the Jumps front, January has been fairly slow for Dodlands Steading. Around the turn of the year, we did have a couple of hurdlers at Ayr's New Year meeting on 2nd January.
In the 2m 4f handicap hurdle, So Many Roads was having his first race after a summer wind operation and delighted connections when staying on into 3rd. We wouldn't go as far to say he looked like winning (spoiler, he didn't) but he stayed on encouragingly after the last to reach the frame in an 18 runner race.
He'll be schooled over fences, so expect to see him chasing when he reappears, probably into February as he was due his regulatory Winter Vaccinations after this race.

Both Barrels finished out of the frame for the first time ever in his career in the 3 mile handicap hurdle that closed the card. He started favourite but truth be told he was being ridden along approaching 3 out so was beaten a fair bit out. He weakened 2 out and came home in 7th.
He's a nice horse, just turned 7yrs of age, and we hope it wont be long before he comes back into form.

On the level, results have been a bit mixed with a couple of 4th places our best results but recent runs from Pallas Lord and See My Baby Jive have been a bit more promising.

Newcastle 16th January : 3.20 pm 2m 4f 0-100 Handicap Chase (Class 5)

Update : Nights In Venice was non runner as a precautionary matter as frost hadn't fully come out of the ground.

Nights In Venice's seasonal debut in early December came to an abrupt halt when he was pulled up after 3 out. Not quite beaten at the time but his jockey felt him weaken and pulled him up to be on the safe side.
That was over 3 miles and today he resorts back in trip to 2½ miles, the distance of his winning race last season. The only negative is the ground which is forecast to be good to soft. Our fellow prefers plenty of give in the ground.

Henry Brooke, his regular jockey in 2024, is back in the plate.
Good luck to all his fervent owners.