Sandy Thomson Stable Tour

Form profile

107 rated chaser. Off the mark with a two and a quarter length success from Chanceux in a novices’ handicap chase at Uttoxeter (2m 4f) on New Year’s Eve off a mark of 99.

Trainer says

He had a slightly disappointing hurdling campaign, and it didn’t quite go to plan at the beginning of the season. Obviously he showed his ability at Uttoxeter, and he is going to make a lovely staying chaser. He will go three miles or further, and he could make a Borders National horse one day.

Form profile

141 rated chaser. Finished runner-up, beaten a neck, to Grandads Cottage in a novices’ handicap chase at Wetherby (2m 3½f) in December off a mark of 139.

Trainer says

I was delighted with him at Carlisle, and it was a messy race at Wetherby. I think if it had been a quicker pace, it would have suited him, and he has unfortunately come back and missed one or two opportunities, but I think we may go for the Kingmaker at Warwick, and that will make our mind up as to if he goes to Cheltenham and what we go for.

Form profile

134 rated hurdler. Returned to winning form on his latest start in a handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (2m 4f) on New Year’s Day when beating Holmes St Georges 11 lengths off a mark of 128.

Trainer says

What a star he’s been - he cost £7,000 and he's won £45,000. He just keeps improving and seems to be able to stay, and I think the owners hope he might get into one of the handicaps at Cheltenham. He won round Musselburgh, which wouldn’t be too soft, but I think the further he goes, the less important the ground is to him.

Form profile

Off the mark on her second attempt in a bumper when beating Chalk That Down a length and three quarters at Newcastle on Boxing Day.

Trainer says

She did it really nicely in her bumper at Newcastle and the form is working out, with the third horse winning since. We might be looking for a Listed bumper with her.

Form profile

123 rated hurdler. Made a winning debut for the stable in a maiden hurdle at Kelso (2m) in December and followed up with another course-and-distance success when beating Traprain Law two and a half lengths later that month.

Trainer says

We bought him and he had one or two issues, but he’s come good this year. He may go to Musselburgh on Sunday. We will try and find one of these nice handicaps at Ayr or somewhere at the end of the season.

Form profile

119 rated chaser. Finished fifth, beaten 28 lengths, to Minella Drama in a handicap chase at Musselburgh (2m 4½f) in January off a mark of 122.

Trainer says

It isn’t quite panning out this year, and he came back with a little knick from Musselburgh. He isn’t going to go back for the Scottish Champion Chase that he won last year, which is a pity, but hopefully we might find something for him. We might step him up, but he didn’t stay two and a half at Newcastle even though he did at Musselburgh.

Form profile

126 rated hurdler. Returned to winning form when beating Schalke by a head in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (3m) in December off a mark of 122.

Trainer says

He seems to enjoy going right-handed and likes Musselburgh, so he will go for a Pertemps Qualifier there on Sunday. He is not the biggest, but he’s done well to win his races.

Form profile

112 rated hurdler. Finished fifth, beaten 15 lengths, to Schalke in a handicap hurdle at Kelso (2m 6½f) in December on his latest start off a mark of 113.

Trainer says

He has been a frustrating horse, as he looked a really good novice but didn’t take to fences. He has had his wind done and will hopefully be out before too long. He is very well handicapped on his best form and he can hopefully pick up a few races. He can go on a bit longer and race into May and June.

Form profile

147 rated chaser. Gained his last success on his reappearance in a handicap chase at Aintree (3m 1f) in October when beating Wishing And Hoping eight and a half lengths off a mark of 145.

Trainer says

I was delighted with him at Aintree and then he was just not good enough in the Rehearsal off 149. The ground went against him at Warwick and he will hopefully contest a veterans race next, and it would be nice if he could go back for the Scottish National.

Form profile

121 rated chaser. Scored by three and a quarter lengths from High Moon in a novices’ handicap chase at Ayr (2m 4½f) in January off a mark of 117.

Trainer says

I was really pleased with him at Ayr the other day. We haven’t been overly busy with him, but he didn’t really jump hurdles and I was really pleased with the way he jumped around Hexham after he had his wind done. He did well at Ayr, and I hope he might make the big novice chase at Ayr on Grand National Day.

Form profile

136 rated chaser and 129 rated hurdler. Finished seventh, beaten 34 lengths, to Silver Flyer in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster (3m ½f) in December. Better known as a chaser, and one of his best efforts came when finishing runner-up, beaten three and a half lengths, to Threeunderthrufive in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick (3m) in January of last year.

Trainer says

He was obviously second in two Grade 2s last year and had his wind done at the beginning of the season. He went to Doncaster and that blew the cobwebs away, and we decided not to go for the Sky Bet Chase. That was probably wise, as I don’t know if is jumping would have stood up. He will be entered in the Edinburgh National and will likely go there, and the Midlands National might be something for him.

Form profile

143 rated chaser. Finished seventh, beaten 14½ lengths, to Brave Seasca in a handicap chase at Aintree (2m 4f) in December, on his first run in 252 days, off a mark of 145.

Trainer says

What a shame the Peter Marsh at Haydock was off, as I thought he was in really good form. He ran really well at Aintree over a trip that was too short and just blew up a bit. He goes to Sandown at the weekend - that’s all there is for him really. If he went up a couple of pounds, he could get into the Grand National, and we will seriously think about it.

Form profile

99 rated hurdler. Scored by two lengths from Barnabas Collins in a handicap hurdle at Kelso (2m) in January off a mark of 92.

Trainer says

He was a bit of a surprise really. He got a bit lost in Ireland and came over with not a great reputation, but to score over three miles and then go back to two was very pleasing. We are not quite sure, but we will try and get him qualified for one of the Northern Light Finals.

Form profile

122 rated chaser. Scored by six lengths from Clongule Way on her latest outing in the Borders National at Kelso (4m ½f) in December off a mark of 114.

Trainer says

You would never have thought she would have been a Borders National horse the way she is bred. As long as the ground is safe at Musselburgh, she will go for the Edinburgh National on Saturday, and it would be nice to think that a Scottish National might be on the agenda. She isn’t very big, but she jumps very well and hopefully that is somewhere for her to go.

Form profile

98 rated hurdler. Finished fourth, beaten 13½ lengths, to Piaff Bubbles in a novices’ handicap hurdle at Wetherby (3m) earlier this month off a mark of 100.

Trainer says

He is going to be a nice three-mile chaser. He probably wasn’t strong enough at Wetherby over three miles over hurdles, as he is quite a raw individual. We will drop him back and he'll hopefully pick up a handicap before the end of the season, but he was always going to be a staying chaser and that’s what it will all be about next season.

Form profile

143 rated chaser. Finished seventh, beaten 13¾ lengths, to Ashtown Lad in the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree (3m 2f) in December off a mark of 145.

Trainer says

He has always been a bit of an unlucky horse and always had a little problem. He will probably go to the Eider or the Premier Chase at Kelso, and the plans is then to go to Aintree with him. If it turned up soft, I think he would have a great chance. He has jumped around twice, but he needs it soft.

Form profile

105 rated hurdler. Finished runner-up, beaten a length and a half, to Half Shot in a handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (2m 4f) in November off mark of 103.

Trainer says

He is another one we are taking our time with. He has been a bit gassy, but he is beginning to settle a bit more. He probably wants a bit of better ground, and he will likely run at Musselburgh or Carlisle this week. He will be better when you give him a fence.

Form profile

107 rated hurdler. Has finished runner-up in his last two hurdles, beaten eight lengths by Cruz Control in his last start at Newcastle (2m 1f) on Boxing Day.

Trainer says

He just bumped into one at Newcastle and has a nice mark. He is going to be a chaser and anything he does over hurdles is going to be a bonus. He probably goes to Musselburgh on Sunday. He is bigger than some Leading Lights and is a strong horse.

Form profile

Finished runner-up, beaten three lengths, to Chosen Hero in a mares’ bumper at Wetherby in January.

Trainer says

She has been a bit of a late developer and we were delighted with how she ran at Wetherby. She will probably go to a mares’ bumper at Ayr in a week to ten days’ time, and if she won that she could have one more run. She has schooled well, and I think she will make a very decent mares’ novice hurdler next season.

Form profile

112 rated handicap chaser. Scored for the second time this season when beating Creative Control 11 lengths in a handicap chase at Musselburgh (3m) in January off a mark of 103.

Trainer says

I was delighted he won the first day, then he just got touched off, and then he really appreciated the step up to three miles at Musselburgh. Again, he would be another one who will probably qualify for a Northern Lights Final.

Form profile

Finished fourth, beaten 10 lengths, to Peaky Boy in a bumper at Newcastle (2m) in November.

Trainer says

I was delighted with her at Newcastle taking on the boys. She was very green and didn’t have a clue what she was doing. She had never been off the pace, and it didn’t really click until she came into the home straight. She’s a nice mare and we’re really looking forward to the next time she runs, but we are not sure where yet.

Form profile

98 rated hurdler. Finished fourth, beaten 13 lengths, to Chapel Green in a novice hurdle at Kelso (2m) in November.

Trainer says

He had a couple of good bumper runs and a couple of good hurdles runs, and has had his wind done. He will be out shortly. He is nicely handicapped and will hopefully be competitive, but is another who will be better jumping fences next year.

Form profile

121 rated hurdler. Finished runner-up, beaten a length, to Sheriff Garrett in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle (2m 4½f) on Boxing Day off a mark of 120.

Trainer says

He is one of these little horses who puts it all in and people say he is always second and ungenuine, but he is so genuine and is just having to carry big weights. He is going to go for the Pertemps at Musselburgh on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see how he goes.

Form profile

120 rated chaser. Pulled-up in two starts at Haydock (2m 5½f) in December and Newcastle (2m 4f) in January since winning a handicap chase at Kelso (2m 5½f) in November off a mark of 119.

Trainer says

He is a very frustrating horse and seems to have any amount of ability, but just getting him right on the right day is the problem. We took him to Haydock and obviously got battered in at the first fence, then we took him to Newcastle the same week and looked like winning turning in and he just stopped. Two miles-five on good ground is probably what he wants. Hopefully he can enjoy the spring, and I think there are a couple of nice races in him.

Form profile

115 rated hurdler. Scored by half a length from Brandy McQueen in a handicap hurdle at Kelso (3m 2f) in November off a mark of 112.

Trainer says

I was delighted with him at Kelso, and he really wants three miles on a flat track and better ground. He has had an issue, which we have had to sort, and is another that won well in May last year, and the Challenger Final might be a race for him.

Form profile

134 rated hurdler. Winner of both his handicap hurdles this season, scoring by a length and three quarters from Flight Deck at Carlisle (3m 1f) in November off a mark of 124 and following up with a six-length victory from Wakool at Ayr (3m ½f) in January off a mark of 128.

Trainer says

He is not the soundest but, having had his wind done, he is sound this season and has won two races. He will go to Sandown for the big £100,000 race on Saturday. It could do to rain a bit, which I don’t think it will do, but these opportunities don’t come along very often.

Form profile

120 rated chaser. Finished third, beaten 16 lengths, to Massini Man in a handicap chase at Musselburgh (3m) in January off a mark of 122.

Trainer says

He has been very disappointing since his Scottish National fourth. He should have won at Newcastle but just threw it away, and I was much happier with him at Musselburgh. He will go to the Edinburgh National as well.

Form profile

Finished fourth, beaten eight and a half lengths, to Ici La Reine in a mares’ bumper at Newcastle in January.

Trainer says

Mark Molloy sent me this mare and I was delighted with her at Newcastle. She is not a bumper horse, but it was good to get her on the racecourse and give her some experience. She will go hurdling now and jumps very well. Hopefully we can have some fun in the spring when we get her qualified for mares’ handicaps.

Form profile

124 rated hurdler. Finished last of 10, beaten 53 lengths, to Rock My Way in a Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4½f) on Saturday after winning his previous two hurdles at Haydock (1m 7½f) and Newcastle (2m).

Trainer says

We don’t know if he travelled at Cheltenham or not, but Ryan (Mania) was never happy with him on Saturday. Maybe we bit off more than we could chew but if we are happy, we would go for the Premier Hurdle at Kelso, and if not, we will probably not run again until the Scottish National meeting at Ayr.