Carlisle Racecourse hails 'special' day of northern action

Carlisle hosted the third day of the Racing Post Go North Festival on Sunday after earlier meetings at Musselburgh and Kelso over the weekend.

An action-packed day was saluted by Carlisle general manager Helen Willis, who said: “The Go North Series is all about celebrating what the north has to offer when it comes to racing.

“It’s an amazing initiative which we are very proud to be a part of.

 “It gives trainers who might not have horses for some of the major spring racing festivals the opportunity to compete for really good prize money.

“We had a fantastic day and the quality of racing on offer was really special.”

At Carlisle, three races worth £30,000 each took place, and were won by trainers from Guiseley in west Yorkshire, Otterburn in Northumberland and Hawick in the Scottish Borders.

Otterburn trainer Jane Walton saw Uptown Harry win the Go North Monet’s Garden Series Final Handicap Steeple Chase.

Hold The Note ridden by Danny McMenamin was another winner at Carlisle (Image: Grossick Photography)

She said: “I’ve only had seven runners all season, and nothing had finished better than fifth until today and his full sister [Noble Affair] was second in the photo finish in the race before – we nearly had a double!

“We knew he’d love the ground and he loves going right-handed, this is his track.”

Jockey Ross Chapman added: “I got beat in the race before and I was trying to make up for it!

“He probably just needed his last run as it came after a layoff and he had a few niggles. He has come back today.

“He made a mistake at the bottom of the hill. I knew he’d stay but to come back from that and keep galloping – he has done well.

“Prizes like this don’t come around too often. You would usually have to win two races to get a pot like that so it’s nice for everyone.”

Go North Racing leading trainer Lucinda Russell and leading jockey Patrick Wadge (Image: Grossick Photography)

Brian Jordan was also happy after Hold The Note, who he part-owns, won the afternoon’s Go North Red Rum Series Final Handicap Steeple Chase.

He said: “I was told by Ewan Whillians [trainer] that this would be the race for it.

“It’s taken a wee while to get there with the horse, he’s had his problems.”

 The leading trainer of the weekend’s Go North Series races was Lucinda Russell who had a win at Musselburgh on Friday with Cuban Cigar and two seconds with Idem and Netywell.

Patrick Wadge, who claimed two wins and a second, was the leading jockey of the weekend.