Thursday 26th February, 2026
Two runners tomorrow with Agent Argylle going to Newbury for the 3.35pm in the two and a half miles National Hunt novices hurdle and Swift Jet at Doncaster in the 3.57pm in the three miles handicap hurdle.
Agent Argylle (pictured) is an Irish point to point winner and ran well on his bumper debut when not beaten far at Wetherby. He then showed he was a staying chaser in the making on his hurdling debut at Doncaster. Hopefully the ground at Newbury tomorrow will be better as he won his point-to-point on good ground. This son of Mahler has done a lot of growing since we purchased him and he will undoubtedly strengthen up following a summer break and looking forward to him showing promise in the meantime, in what looks a very hot contest. Finn Lambert takes the ride.
Swift Jet returns to hurdling having fallen in his two chases. Both falls were following some very clean and excellent jumping so it is a bit of a headscratcher as to why he has made these mistakes but he has run well on the course in the past and Harry Bannister takes the ride.
The Last Drop was a pleasing fourth in the handicap hurdle at Plumpton on Monday and would benefit from some better ground but proved that the step up in trip suited. We will look for something similar for her in a few weeks time with the forecast due to be drier in March. She is undoubtedly handicapped to be competitive when all conditions suit and we look forward to her owner’s patience being rewarded with a victory this spring.
Congratulations to Molly Armytage who rode not only her first point-to-point winner on Sunday but her first winner on her first ride under rules in a valuable Hunter Chase at Leicester on Tuesday. Having known Molly all her life, it was wonderful to see her gain these two well-deserved victories. Her Leicester winner Enqarde has used our gallops here in Adlestrop and we are all so pleased for Celia Plunket in training him to win. There are certainly similarities in Molly’s style to her Aunty Gee and we look forward to many more successes to come.
The decision of not running Constitution Hill over hurdles again is undoubtedly a sensible one for the sport. Whatever anyone’s views are, it is down to the trainer and the owner to make that decision and Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley have undoubtedly taken all considerations into account. With his spectacular Southwell win, we can now look forward to this talented nine-year-old going on to a flat campaign and hopefully giving many more moments of joy for his connections and many fans. He is due to parade at Cheltenham and I am sure the reception he will receive will be as loud and cheery as any winner that week.
