We have four runners on Saturday over the jumps, with three making their way to Cartmel, where the going is currently soft, good to soft in places, and we also send one to Market Rasen, where the ground is currently described as good.
At Cartmel, Ballylinch has his third start for us since arriving from Ireland in the spring. All of his 11 starts in Ireland were in point to points, where he was a winner, and also placed on a further four occasions, and since arriving at the yard, he has run in two novice hurdle races to date, and will be eligible for a handicap mark after this. He runs at 2.15.pm, in a novices hurdle over two miles and six furlongs, with Alice Stevens retaining the ride.
Bandit D'Ainay who enjoys cut in the ground, should get conditions to suit when he tackles the 0-100 handicap chase, over two miles and one furlong at 4.0.pm, with Sean Quinlan retaining the ride. Bandit D'Ainay's best piece of recent form was when finishing runner up to his ex stablemate Roxyfet in April of last year, from an 11lb higher mark than now.
A Cheap Thrill has his second start for us, since joining the yard from Ireland only three weeks ago. A Cheap Thrill unfortunately fell at the fifth fence on his stable debut at Market Rasen 13 days ago, and from the same mark of 100, he now steps up in trip by four furlongs. He goes to post for the 4.35.pm, a 0-115 handicap chase, over two miles and five furlongs, with Sean Quinlan taking the ride.
At Market Rasen, Getaway Jewel was the winner of this corresponding race last season, from a 3lb lower mark than now. He won at Southwell on his penultimate start. but probably found the race coming too soon when finishing only sixth on his latest run, and there is no reason to think that he doesn't come in to this race in top form. He runs at 3.50.pm, in the 0-110 handicap chase, over two miles and one furlong, with his regular rider, the champion jockey, Brian Hughes in the saddle.
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Good luck to the connections, John Burnett, The Golden Cuckoo, Oakwood Racing, and Phil Ellerby.
Ballylinch.
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