Good to have Ski Lodge back in action at Doncaster on Sunday

February 28

Ski Lodge is one of the younger horses who Alan thinks very highly of, and he is looking forward to the six-year-old returning in Noel Fehily’s’ syndicated silks in the novice hurdle at Doncaster on Sunday.

A bumper winner at Chepstow 11 months ago, Ski Lodge blew up on his jumping debut at Ffos Las in November, but he needed that comeback run after a long absence and duly lived up to his big reputation when improving to land a maiden hurdle at Haydock in early December.

Alan said:”Ski Lodge is a big, fine horse who looked good at Haydock, but sadly a few weeks later he pulled muscles across his back and quarters when working and has been off since.

“However , Ski Lodge has been going well at home, and, though we plan to give the big spring festivals a miss, everything has been geared around next season when he will go over fences and could prove an exciting novice chaser.”

We are also doubly-represented in the bumper on Town Moor with Hay MacLeod and Blue Sky Dreaming. Alan added:”Hay Macleod was due to make his debut in the bumper at Hereford last Sunday, but he got spooked in the paddock and slipped over on the grass. However, it was a soft fall – he just rolled on to his side and was fine.

“The annoying thing was that Hay MacLeod trotted up perfectly sound and the three vets who saw him were very satisfied that he was ok. But the BHA rules state that he had to be withdrawn, which did not please me at all.

“He seems fine now and cantered on Monday, but, having lost Hereford, we have no option but to run at Doncaster, otherwise the timing would be too close to the Goffs Bumper at Newbury, which is his target.”

Equally promising is Blue Sky Dreaming. He is a newcomer of the Waley-Cohens, from the same family as their Gold Cup winner Long Run and he commands plenty of interest, being by Blue Bresil, sire of Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill.

Our other Sunday runner is Dickens in the two mile handicap hurdle at Huntingdon. Alan said:”The better the ground, the better Dickens chance. He was travelling well when he fell three out at Uttoxeter last time, but he has schooled fine since, so we are hoping for the best.”