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Novice hurdlers do battle again this weekend

02 December 2016

After Elgin's win at Newcastle last weekend, it is Bardd and Top Tug's turn to attempt to enhance their careers this weekend. Last Saturday, on Newcastle's Fighting Fifth Hurdle card, Elgin made a winning debut over hurdles, having schooled well at Alan King's Barbury Castle Stables. Winning jockey, Daryl Jacob, was very impressed with our homebred son of Duke Of Marmalade, who chased home the impressive Cruiseaweigh in a bumper at Aintree earlier in November. On that occasion, Elgin was forced to concede a penalty to the eventual winner, but he ran off level weights at Newcastle, beating the odds-on favourite, Dubai Angel, who had previously won a Carlisle bumper by 22 lengths. Elgin was most impressive and we very much look forward to his next race!

Bardd takes on Cruiseaweigh tomorrow at Sandown in his first hurdling assignment. After finishing second in his only race last season, Bardd opened his account at the first time of asking over tomorrow's course and distance when winning a bumper last month. He has also schooled well at Seven Barrows and Nicky Henderson is very much looking forward to seeing Bardd run tomorrow. The formbook tells us that both the 129-rated Dashing Oscar and the promising Cruiseaweigh are the ones to beat, but we are hoping for a promising start over obstacles for Bardd regardless.

The following day we are looking forward to Top Tug's second start over hurdles at Huntingdon, where he takes on fifteen rivals. Top Tug won at the first time of asking on the Flat for the Club, after he was bought out of Sir Michael Stoute's yard last year. He then took us to some of the best Flat racing festivals, including Royal Ascot, before being rested ahead of a winter campaign. Top Tug then impressed in his first race over obstacles at Kempton, when skipping clear after the last under Wayne Hutchinson. Alan King hopes that Top Tug has improved since the run, and that he can defend his unbeaten record over hurdles, despite being burdened with a 7lb penalty.

Elite Racing Club currently has a very exciting bunch of novice hurdlers in training, so we very much hope these two can come back safe and sound this weekend and build on their very promising reputations.