Our Friends in Scotland: Iain Jardine Stable Tour ahead of 2020 Flat season

Our Friends in Scotland - Iain Jardine

Stable star: Lomu

Horse to follow: Alix James

Handicapper to follow: River Icon

Alix James

He had a very consistent first season and deserved to break his maiden tag on his final start at Musselburgh. I think he’ll be a nice fun horse for the season who doesn’t mind a bit of juice in the ground. He’s quite a handy horse, so tracks like Musselburgh and Catterick suit him really well.

Clearance

He’s a really solid dual purpose horse who will run in staying handicaps this season. He did well for us last year after I claimed him, winning a couple of races latterly at Ripon. I decided to run him the following day at Musselburgh and in hindsight I probably shouldn’t have. He’s working well at the moment and I think he’s still off a winnable mark.

Glory Fighter

He’s yet to run for us, having previously been with Charlie Hills. His form last season was quite good, finishing second on debut at Newbury and then winning second time out. He’s lightly-raced for a four-year-old and could improve with age.

Golden Sandbanks

He’s a horse by Havana Gold who we like. He’s run three times for us, all at Newcastle and certainly looks like he’s going the right way. His last run was his best, finishing second to one of Charlie Appleby’s. We were delighted with that run and thought he was a bit unlucky. He’s a half-brother to Penhill, so we're really looking forward to running him over a mile and a quarter. I think he could be quite exciting.

Jabbaar

He’s a real credit to the stable and is so consistent. He went hurdling for us and won first time up. He ran well on the Flat last year without quite getting his head in front and the handicapper hasn’t given him any leniency. He loves a bit of ease in the ground and a mile and a half is ideal.

Jump The Gun

A horse who is new to the yard having been previously trained by Jamie Osborne. He bolted up at Southwell last season, so I suspect he’ll handle some give in the ground. He’s been going very nicely at home and I’m looking forward to seeing him on the track.

Karasheni

He’s on a little break at the moment but will be in full training very soon. We tried him juvenile hurdling and he didn’t seem to enjoy it. However, it seemed to make a man of him and he ran a cracker at Newcastle on the all-weather, finishing third only beaten a couple of lengths. I think we can get a win out of him this season.

Lara Silvia

She’s a nice filly who won a couple of races for us last season as a two-year-old. I think she’s improved and done really well over the winter. She’s on an upward curve, handles soft ground, and looks a million dollars at the moment.

Lomu

I bought this lad at the sales and he’s already won a couple for us on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. Although he’s done his winning on that surface for us, I think he can do well back on the turf. I’d forgive him the last run at Newcastle as he ideally needs an end-to-end gallop to see him at his best, which he didn’t get. He’s going well at home and we’re pleased with him.

Martin’s Brig

By Equiano and ran with credit over the winter. He’s got some ability and I think he’ll be able to win a race.

Nakeeta

He’s become well handicapped now, back to a rating of 80. He’s owned by an elderly couple who live in the south of England and were keen to see as much of him as possible. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out, so he’s back with us looking and working great. We’ll look for a 0-80 handicap with him and try and target races like the Lanack Silver Bell at Hamilton and the Old Borough Cup at Haydock. I think he still retains ability.

Nubough

We bought him at the sales out of Charlie Hills’ yard and he ran a couple of good races for us down at Newmarket. He’s had a bit of a break and I think he’s improved for it. He’s currently rated 78 and I think we can get a win out of him from that mark.

River Icon

She ran a cracker at York last season and has built up a good relationship with Paul Mulrennan, who has ridden her the last three times on the Flat. She enjoys soft ground and I think there’s a race in her. We might look at one of the staying races at Pontefract in the series that they run throughout the season. She stays all day and is very gutsy.

Sioux Frontier

Is a really fun horse for his owners. He’s straightforward and consistent which is half the battle. He enjoys running at places like Hamilton and Musselburgh over a mile-and-a-half. We might try him over a little further to see if he stays.

Two-Year-Olds

I’ve got some nice juveniles who I think will be more for the second half of the season. I’ll be looking forward to seeing them progress once we get going.

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