Monday 7th September - another winner on the board, and a couple of near misses.....

Pisgah Pike added another winner to the seasonal tally when bolting up in a maiden hurdle at Hexham last week.  He had been placed in a bumper and a novice hurdle last season, but wasn’t quite seeing his races out.  After a wind op in the summer and a confidence boosting 2^nd on seasonal reappearance, he duly obliged at Hexham with the minimum of fuss.  We’ll more than likely aim for the £28k Prelude hurdle at Market Rasen at the end of the month now. 

Pisgah Pike wins well at Hexham.

Redbridge Gold went agonisingly close to winning on her seasonal debut last week, but instead added another 2^nd to our scoresheet.  She jumped superbly and galloped all the way to the line, but was done for a bit of speed by a horse off the flat.  I’d like to think she’ll be able to improve on that run, and she’ll be putting her head back in front before long. 

Redbridge Gold jumps well before being beaten a neck. 

We took three up to Sedgefield last week, where Sazerak ran well to be 2^nd in the bumper, she will more than likely go hurdling now.  I was looking forward to Kate and Andrew Brooks’ Fortunate Fred making his hurdling debut.  He was placed in a couple of bumpers last season, and had been schooling really well.  He jumped super the whole way, and was upsides the eventual winner, when he missed the last and tipped up.  Thankfully both he and Gavin were fine, and I look forward to seeing him out again later this autumn.  Our last runner at Sedgefield was Timoshenko, who had won on his hurdling debut earlier this summer.  We tried to pop out in front to make the running, but that didn’t work at all and he didn’t concentrate one iota in front and instead set the race up for the others……he does qualify for a mark now though, and there should be a lot more to come from him in handicaps and up in trip. 

Another who should improve for going up in trip on better ground is Mustang Alpha who was 3^rd at Cartmel last weekend on rain softened ground.  He found 2m a bit sharp and this former pointer should find his way in handicaps now, and will run at Uttoxeter on Wednesday if the rain stays away. 

Stratton Oakmont was another to be 3^rd last weekend in the bumper at Stratford.  He looked a bit green off the bridle, having travelled into the race well, and he should improve enormously for the experience. 

Of our other runners last week, Fact of the Matter was 4^th over hurdles, and that should put him spot on as he’ll now head out to France for a 35,000 Euros Cross Country race at Vichy on Friday 18^th September.  We’ll also be sending Oneofthesenights out to France where she’ll run in a 38,000 Euro conditions hurdle at Auteuil on 16th September.