Granny Hawkins earmarked to start off at Southwell on Tuesday

June

In recent seasons, Derby Day to Alan has been all about winning the big mile and a half handicap in consecutive years with Midnights Legacy on those famous Surrey Downs.

However, Alan got just a big a kick (well almost) by cheering home all-weather winner Hourless to make a successful debut over jumps in the juvenile hurdle at Hexham.

That got the ball rolling in June for Barbury, and Alan has a couple of interesting runners at Southwell on Tuesday in Granny Hawkins and Forget The Way.

Granny Hawkins, who was due to make her debut at Bangor a fortnight ago but was withdrawn because of the fast ground, is by Blue Bresil, the sire of the brilliant Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill. She is also a full-sister to Klitschko, who has won twice for Alan.

Bought at Goffs as a three-year-old for £23,000, Granny Hawkins is ready to kick-start her career in the mares bumper, where Forget The Way runs in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

Forget The Way, who carries the Edwardstone colours, was having his first run since he underwent wind surgery when he finished fourth at Warwick last month. That was a creditable run, and he ought to again be thereabouts here.

Also on Wednesday we have Lunar Shadow returning to Lingfield for their finale. She only just failed to get up at Chelmsford two weeks ago, but her record at Lingfield is two wins and three places from five runs, so this mare should again be in the thick of it at the business end.

We also have three runners on the Flat on Wednesday. Palio, who belied odds of 50-1 when showing plenty of promise on his Salisbury debut, has to have a squeak at Ripon with the in-form Paul Mulrennan on board, Mayfair Gold, who had been off four months before carrying on where she left off when winning at Chelmsford, found things too hot to handle at Newmarket but has to be considered back on the all-weather at Kempton, where Dal Mallart, tries a mile and a half again in the penultimate race. Both our runners on the Sunbury track are ridden by Hollie Doyle.