Friday 23rd January, 2025

Hardly ideal ground for our runners at Doncaster today but it was good to give experience to Agent Argylle in the two and a half mile novices hurdle.  He jumped well and stayed on up the straight in a competitive event and will be more suited to better ground.  He will strengthen up with a summer under his belt and very much looks like a three mile chaser in the making.

Neeps And Tatties (pictured) settled far better in the two mile novices hurdle and although outpaced up the straight, she stayed on well enough to look as though she will be competitive in handicaps in the future.  She will eventually need further than two miles once she learns to settle better.

The Last Drop stayed on up the straight to prove that she probably needs three miles now and we will look for something suitable over that trip in the coming weeks.  Whilst Swift Jet frustratingly jumped well in the first part of the handicap chase before not being able to get his landing gear out going down the back straight.  We may have to return to hurdles with him before trying him back over a fence.

Tech That has been declared in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter tomorrow and with Finn Lambert riding at Cheltenham, Harry Bannister takes the ride.  Although the ground will probably not be ideal – he has shown form on a soft surface in the past and it will be interesting to see how he gets on now stepping back up in trip.

We have entries next week with Dora Vita on the all-weather at Kempton, whilst Six Blue is entered in the mares bumper at Wincanton.  Bluenose Belle will also be entered on the all-weather with the rain getting in the way of many of our plans.