Tuesday 25th April 2023 - another Grade 2 winner as we look to end an incredible season on a massive high.

It was a real thrill to see Datsalrightgino winning the Grade 2 Future Champions Novice Chase at Ayr over 2m4 on Scottish National Day, under an inspired ride from Gavin Sheehan.  ‘Gino’ has been a progressive chaser all season, as he started out this season on a handicap mark of 129, and is now rated 149.  We have always had a huge amount of faith in him, and it’s lovely to see him fulfilling that promise.  He won over 2m earlier this season at Chepstow, but has so often hit the crossbar in finishing 2^nd in good races at Cheltenham on Trials Day, and in the Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton.  The one disappointing run of the season was when favourite for the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.  However, the rain came that day, and the ground went very soft, and it just didn’t work for him.  Back on nicer ground, he won in impressive fashion, and I can’t wait to see him over 3m next season. 

Datsalrightgino wins the Grade 2 Future Stars Novice Chase at Ayr.

We took a lorry load up to Ayr, and I was pleased to see Ebonello running well to be 4^th in the Class 2 Mares handicap over 3m.  She made an error at the 4^th last, just when the race was shaping up, and that cost her a place.  She has needed a few stitches in the cut, but thankfully she is ok, and there should be more to come from her next season.  Passing Well was also 4^th in the competitive Class 3 novice where he carried a double penalty.  He looks every inch a proper 3m chaser, and I can’t wait to see him over a fence next season. 

Obessedwithyou ran a mighty race to be 4^th in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham last week, where she was only beaten 4 lengths.  A mistake at the last cost her some valuable momentum in the sprint for home, however it was a big effort from the little mare who was taking on far more experienced rivals.  She only made her racecourse debut in October, and has graduated from the new Junior NH Development Hurdle Series. 

Our only other runner over the weekend was Dusky Days, who was 2^nd at Stratford.  It was lovely to see him back on track after his form took a dive through the winter.  He should be able to get his head back in front in the coming weeks.  Dusky’s prize money however, took us over the £700,000 mark, which is a record season for us.

So now there is just one week left of the season, and we’ll have a few more darts to throw and with decent prize money on at Sandown, the season is not yet over!