Weekend Runners & News

pippa666 ♦ February 24, 2018

Buttons & Sammy heading off to Newcastle this morning

It’s Chasing Time again….

Lady Buttons appears to have come out of her Leopardstown race well and it will be a relief to both her and us to nip up the road to Newcastle tomorrow and stay local after two trips across the Irish Sea! It’s a small but competitive race for this valuable class 2 Novice Chase and the biggest danger to her going off the betting guide is the other mare in the race – the Ruth Jefferson trained ‘Kelka’ who also has some smart bumper and hurdle form. Both mares will be contesting their second chase tomorrow, Buttons winning her first chase and carrying a penalty for that Listed success at Bangor. With Rene’s Girl whom she firmly beat that day winning a £75k mares chase yesterday – the form of her Mares Bangor and Wetherby races this season looks top class. Le Bague aux Rois who just beat her first time out has also won both her subsequent races. We’ll be watching Buttons and Adam with nervous eyes as always when this beautiful mare goes to the races – it’s a nerve wracking few minutes but she schooled better than ever earlier in the week and she is, after all, a racehorse and she loves her job. The very best of luck to her Owners, Keith & Jayne Sivills who will both be cheering her on at Newcastle tomorrow.

Buttons lead the string yesterday alongside Suggestion

And the verdict – we hope they’re right ……

Jayne & Keith Sivills are double handed tomorrow as Phil has also declared their Sakhee’s City for the valuable handicap hurdle. He didn’t really travel into the race at Carlisle but this track should be more to his liking if he is fully over exertions, a strong pace is absolutely vital but in the back of our minds we also know he’s run his best races when fresh.

Sakhee’s City with Julie

Our final runner of the day will be Mr Carbonator on the AW, he’s been in the form of his life this winter, and he was pulling Nathan’s arms out yesterday up the gallop when he breezed up alongside Kaylen’s Mischief. He’s handicapped to the hilt but no ones told him that and he’ll be doing his best under Kevin Stott. Yesterday we saw Kevin on Good Time Ahead ALMOST hold on at Southwell in a 0-90 handicap – what a great run yet again from this game little horse who has done nothing but improve all winter. He was just touched off in a photo by one of Phil’s good friends horses, Ian Jardine. Phil and Ian worked together for a time at Ferdy Murphy’s 1998-99 and also there at the same time was James Ewart – it’s great how all three have gone on to be successful Trainers and it’s also a reflection on the good grounding they got at Ferdy’s – myself included, I was the Secretary for about 18 months and loved every minute of it.