Northern Lights

IT'S the finals day of the Northern Lights series at Carlisle on Sunday and we're hoping a return to the scene of his win 12 months ago reaps a repeat success for MONFASS (2.0) in the the 2m1f Handicap Hurdle Final.

He is up 10lbs compared to last season, so it’s going to be tougher to win this time around - especially as I think the quality of the race looks better this year.

We have been wanting to get a run into him before now - last season we were able to get a prep into him beforehand - but that hasn’t been possible because of the fast ground everywhere.

It’s not ideal going there fresh, but he’s done plenty of work at home and we have got him as fit as we can without running.

Now the rain has come at Carlisle the conditions will suit him and we are excited to be going there defending his title. Like last year, Craig Nichol rides.

He's probably the No1 pick of what's likely to be our only two runners on the card, because I'm almost certain we won't turn out HITMAN FRED (12.25) again after his run at Doncaster on Friday.

ROMULUS DU DONJON (3.30) has thrown in two stinkers since finishing second to King Golan at Kelso in October.

That was arguably the best round of jumping he'd put together over fences for us, so his laboured efforts the last twice have been especially disappointing.

He's got more than enough ability to be competitive off this revised lower mark and the one positive from those last two runs is that they at least qualified him for this race, in which he faces only five rivals for a first prize of more than £21,500!

You've got to be in it to win it as they say and, as an unpredictable type, I wouldn't be totally surprised if he did. Here's hoping!