The horses continue to run right up to form with Honourary Gift winning at Sedgefield.
Both Foxey and Ettila de Sivola ran excellent races on a lovely sunny day at Haydock last Wednesday.
The drying ground was not ideal for Ettila de Sivola and Brian Hughes in the 2-mile 3-furlong Novice Handicap Hurdle. He was giving weight away to the older and more experienced winner and he lost nothing in defeat to come second beaten by five lengths. He has such a good attitude and will be a different horse when he goes chasing.
Brian also rode Foxey (bto for Gemma) in the Bumper and this time he settled well to come second by two lengths. He is a lovely scopey horse and we look forward to him going Novice Hurdling.
Last Thursday Steven Fox rode Honourary Gift (another bto for Gemma) at Sedgefield in the 2-mile 1-furlong Novice Hurdle. He had run strongly in his previous race until the last three furlongs and so James cleverly brought him back in trip for a run on this track where he had won before. The drying ground helped and Steven gave him a very good tactical ride tracking the favourite and then going away when it mattered to win by 2 ¾ lengths.
We had runners at Kelso on Saturday and Carlisle on Sunday and we will report on these in the next blog.
ITV based its Saturday broadcast from Kelso and also The Opening Show gave great coverage to the racecourse and they plan two more transmissions from the track which is all good for Scottish Racing.
The Fell ponies continue to compete and make a contribution to the yard. Recently Will Ewart’s son Otto came second in the Young Handler class with Acreknowe Goldfinch at Newton Rigg College and qualified for the championships. Briony also qualified the same pony in her class. At home the ponies, now clipped out by Gemma and super fit, have been leading the youngsters on the gallops and over hurdles.