Monday 23 January

This weekend we see a couple of entries in Doncaster. Cloonacool has been entered in the £50,000 2 mile handicap chase. He is in good form, but it is not certain that he will go to Doncaster. There is the option of going to Musselburgh the weekend after for The Scottish Champion Chase. Saturdays race in Doncaster will have higher rated horses in it than Musselburgh, as Saturdays race is an open handicap, and the Musselburgh heat is a 0-140. Musselburgh is also a flat, quick right handed track which we know suits him well, although I am keen to try him back left handed again, as his form isn't too bad that way round and it would give us an idea if it is worth harbouring ambitions of a trip to Aintree in April. A few days thinking ahead. Also entered on the Doncaster card are two debutantes in the Mares Bumper that concludes the card. Maria's Benefit is set to carry the colours of Paul Wells for the first time. Purchased from the Cheltenham Sales in December, she dead heated in a Dromahane Point To Point in her native Ireland, and has been showing up nicely at home. If she runs she will be Pauls first runner! Also entered in the bumper is Grey Warbler who was due to make her debut in Hereford yesterday, but it was abandoned due to frost. Not ideal to run 2 in the same race, and GW will have future entries in against the geldings as well. Good news to come out of the weekend is that Sneaking Budge has shown no ill effects from going a stride faster on Saturday, and Stuart can press on with him now. Can't wait to see him out again!!