Wednesday 22nd March
The Racing Post Go North Festival returns for the third year this weekend featuring valuable and competitive action at three different venues – Musselburgh (Friday 24th March), Kelso (Saturday 25th March) and Carlisle (Sunday 26th March).
Spread over the three racedays are nine £30,000 contests which are the finals of the Go North Series plus the £50,000 BetVictor Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.
The finals were set up to provide a target for mid-tier horses to be programmed at Jump venues north of Doncaster and offer meaningful end-of-season targets for horses trained in the North. The finals also provide a showcase for Jump racing in a region that boasts a rich history of success – highlighted by the names of the races which pay homage to great horses trained in the North including Red Rum, Sea Pigeon and Jodami.
In order to be eligible for any of the £30,000 finals, horses must have participated in two relevant qualifiers during the current season.
One trainer aiming for success at Carlisle is Northumberland-based Rose Dobbin, who will saddle Captain Quint in the Go North Monet's Garden Series Final Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.
Dobbin said: “The plan is to run Captain Quint at Carlisle on Sunday. He is a really nice type and we always thought a lot of him. I definitely think he has got a bit of quality about him and I think he will be even better again next season.
“The way he won at Ayr (last time out on March 1st) was really pleasing. He was flat out all the way round but Craig (Nichol, jockey) thought it would be useful for his education. He ran well at Carlisle over two miles before that and I think returning there over the extra half a mile will suit him.
“We were slightly confused as to what trip he did want as we thought he wanted three miles on deep ground and that might be the case in the future but two and a half miles on soft ground will be right up his street.
“He is just a dude of a horse. He is very laid back and he is such a gentleman of a horse who will hopefully keep progressing.
“It is a great series and the prize money on offer is brilliant. We’ve had an okay season but we could do with a nice bit of prize money to bolster us so it would be lovely if he could win it.
“The race only really came on the agenda recently. Although there are plenty of qualifiers there was not the right one at the right time for him. Ideally I would have preferred to have run in one before the Ayr race as it only gives us two weeks between races.
“It would be great if he could win it for my very supportive parents (Duncan and Sarah Davidson) as it is a really nice prize.
“As we all know Tony (her husband) had a long association with Monet’s Garden and he loves going back to Carlisle so it would be fitting if Captain Quint could win this race.”
Helen Willis, General Manager at Carlisle Racecourse, said: “We are very excited to host the chase finals on the last day of the Go North Weekend which is now in its third year of running. This excellent initiative provides valuable opportunities for connections who have supported our Northern Racecourses throughout the Winter Jumps Season.”
Bill Farnsworth, General Manager at Musselburgh, said: “The Go North Weekend provides an end of season highlight for the connections of horses, which ply their trade around the Northern Racecourses. Very few horses and their connections make it to the ‘Olympics of Jump Racing’ in March, The Cheltenham Festival, so we support the Go North Weekend to celebrate the horses who have raced on our racetracks during the long winter months. It provides an exciting and valuable target for many of our local owners and trainers.”
To read the thoughts of Kelso’s Manager Director Jonathan Garratt on the Racing Post Go North Festival, please visit https://www.racingpost.com/news/opinion/comment/sorry-i-havent-the-time-for-a-hard-sell-but-i-can-promise-a-great-weekend-at-the-racing-post-go-north-festival-ad1Sa3r5SBXC/
Tickets can be booked online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/carlisle/events-tickets/
Among the ticket options is the Go North Weekend Ticket, which gives access to all three racedays for just £40. This must be booked by midnight on Thursday 23rd March.
Transport Information
MUSSELBURGH RACECOURSE: There is a courtesy shuttle bus to and from Wallyford and Newcraighall train stations to coincide with arrivals and departures from Edinburgh and North Berwick. Lothian buses and East Coast buses also stop outside the racecourse. For more information, visit: www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/find-us
KELSO RACECOURSE: The racecourse provides a Track-to-Track bus service, which must be pre-booked at the cost of £12 per person, to coincide with trains running to Tweedbank (the Borders Railway from Edinburgh Waverley) and Berwick-upon-Tweed (the East Coast mainline from York and London Kings Cross). Book at: www.kelso-races.co.uk
CARLISLE RACECOURSE: Two courtesy shuttle services are running from Carlisle Centre departing from the Halston Hotel at 12pm and 12.45pm to Carlisle Racecourse. After racing, there is a shuttle bus to take you into the main town on English Street. For more informaiton, visit: www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/carlisle/visitor-info/directions-and-parking
