SPRING has definitely been in the air for the last few days and as you can see our famous Hazelrigg snowdrops have arrived en masse.
After the weather we had a few weeks ago, it’s a welcome break to have a bit of sun on our backs and I’m sure the horses are enjoying it too when they’re turned out to the paddocks.
We head for Ayr today with two runners, DO NOT DISTURB (1.55) is up first in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase. He really wants three miles but we thought we’d come here to get him qualified for the middle distance series final at Carlisle at the end of March.
That’s a decent target to have a go at and on this ground today - and probably at Carlisle next month - it will feel a bit like three miles to him. If it doesn’t work out today, we’ll step up in trip next time but the series in the north is a good initiative and we want to have runners when the big day comes around.
SEVEN EYE BRIDGE (3.40) will have his first go in a handicap after two very promising runs back to back. He’s been given a mark of 116, which I think is fair enough, but as this is a 0-115 race we are running off top weight carrying 11-13. Because of that we have decided to book Theo Gillard for the ride to make use of his claim and get some weight off his back.
Theo is a good claimer, I’m sure he will get on well with him and we’re hopeful of a big run.
Rath An Iuir is recovering well from his operation and below you can see he’s now out of his stable walking in hand just six weeks on. It’s still going to be a long road to recovery for him, but it’s been nice to see him take the first steps along that road in the last few days.