Ski Lodge will relish the trip and ground up at Haydock

December 3

Alan made the perfect start to December when Irish-recruit Baron Noir and the consistent Theonlywayiswessex both won at Plumpton on Monday, and, being a big fan of Ski Lodge, I am full of hope that he can keep the Barbury wagon rolling when he runs for the second time over hurdles at Haydock on tomorrow.

Following all the rain which has fallen in the North West, underfoot conditions for Haydock’s three-mile maiden hurdle are bound to be testing, but Alan does not see that as being a problem, pointing out that Ski Lodge won his bumper in heavy ground at Chepstow last January.

He said:”Ski Lodge made his jumping debut over two and a half miles at Ffos Las just under a month ago, and, though he finished only seventh, I blame myself for having him ridden too aggressively on what was his first run back.

“Ski Lodge is a fine, big horse who will eventually be a lovely staying chaser, so I am looking forward to seeing him step up in trip here. You can forget Ffos Las, where he jumped super in the front rank but just got tired going to the last. He has run a lot better than that finishing position suggests.”

There will also be plenty of interest in how Kurakka shapes in the two-year-old novice at Kempton’s evening meeting, the youngster having run with enormous promise to finish fourth over the same polytrack mile last month.

Kurakka, who cost 110,000gns at the Breeze-Up Sales at Newmarket’s Craven meeting last April, is a half-brother to that useful middle-distance performer Fox Vardy, so he’ll doubtless be stepping up in distance in his second season.

Alan said:”I was pleased with Kurakka first time out as he was hampered soon after the start and got knocked back to last, so he did well to stay on up the straight, being beaten little more than two lengths. All my Flat horses come on for their first run, so I’d like to think that he could make up into a smart three-year-old.”

Sandwiched between the above pair, we have Sharp Glance making her debut in the bumper at Ludlow. Alan added:”Sharp Glance is a progressive filly from the family of Call Me A Legend that we know very well. We have been happy with her over the past few weeks and she is ready to get started.”