So Many Roads opens his season at Carlisle on Thursday

Carlisle 26th October : 5.05 pm 2m 4f (0-105) handicap hurdle

It was a fairly hefty fall at Ayr in February that effectively ended his season, so when we were looking for a race to open 2023-24 for So Many Roads, it's fair to say that a 20 runner handicap hurdle on good to soft wasn't what was in our minds. (It was heavy-ish at entry stage).
But there is such a paucity of early season bottom level staying handicap hurdle in early season, that our arm was virtually twisted round our back on this one.
With rain (drizzle at least) in the forecast on the day, it'll probably ride softer than that official going description but with 20 runners So Many Roads will be dropped in first circuit with a view to him regaining jumping confidence. Like to think he'd be challenging up the home straight at the finish though.

Such a large field, there will be lots of horses with viable chances. Like our lad Zwicky looks progressive but has that vital season opener under his belt, and a winning one at that, when prevailing in a good ground handicap hurdle over this distance at Sedgefield a couple of weeks ago.
Bouncing Baby is fit from a successful Summer Flat campaign and won this race last year off 11lb less.
The obligatory Moffat/Charlotte opponent for our yard is Secret Secret who won on debut for the yard at....(guess where) ...in August, and should go well to be in the shake up over the last 2 while ex Dodlands inmate Bushmill Boy has been improving of late.

Not the sharpest photo that's ever been published but So Many Roads made such a great shape when Callum popped him over a couple of jumps on Tuesday that it compelled us to show you.
Hope he can jump as well with 19 opponents around him in the 5.05.....

Anyway, good luck to regular partner Craig Nichol and trust that The Wellfed Boys will enjoy a day at the races.

Last week at Carlisle

We couldn't leave this update without a word on how pleased we all were with the run of Enemy At The Gate at Carlisle last Thursday.
Settled in rear by Henry Brooke, the gelding could be spotted making nice headway to join the leading pack at the end of the back straight turning for home.

He held every chance between 3 out and 2 out but probably just lacked a little bit of race sharpness approaching the last. Not knocked about, he finished 4th beaten a dozen lengths.
He should be able to be very competitive over 2m 4f plus next time.