3 minute read
Sandy Thomson is keeping his fingers crossed the Premier Chase at Kelso will be rescheduled as he plots a route to the Randox Health Grand National with Seeyouatmidnight.
The 10-year-old had been due to tackle the Listed contest on the way to the Aintree feature on April 14, with Thomson needing to get a run into his charge, who has not been seen f inishing second to Big River in a handicap hurdle last March.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is looking into the prospect of restaging the Kelso raceday next week after it was cancelled due to snow, with Thomson keen to run if the card is confirmed.
He said: "Seeyouatmidnight is in great form at home and I'm looking forward to running him. It's a shame that the bad weather has arrived as the race at Kelso fitted nicely into the programme. I haven spoken to the BHA and there is a possibility that the meeting will be rescheduled for next Thursday.
"The BHA have been slightly non-committal as they are watching the weather, which shows no signs of relenting. However, for racing in the North, it is important this this meeting is restaged with Graded and Listed contests on the card.
"We will have to wait and see what the weather does, but I need to get a run into him so hopefully the meeting is rescheduled, because he has to run in a chase before Monday, April 9 to qualify for the Grand National.
"His work has been excellent and if Kelso cannot be rescheduled, then we may have to go to the Cheltenham Festival with him. He's entered in the G3 Ultima Handicap Chase (3m 1f, March 13) so we could possibly go for that race and looking at the entries, it looks a good renewal and he would get in off 11st 3lb.
"He has won at the track before, but if we don't go there, we could head to Carlisle later on this month for a veterans chase to ensure we make the April deadline.
"Seeyouatmidnight has had a great preparation. He's done everything right at home and I managed to get a good bit of work into him on Tuesday (before the worst of the snow).
"He needs to run, not only to qualify for the Grand National, but also to give him a good prep for the race. If everything goes well, he will head to Aintree with every chance.
"His form reads very well having beaten both Blaklion and Bristol De Mai. Based on that he would have a good chance and he goes on any ground. He also jumps well and stayed in the Scottish National so you'd be hopeful regarding the trip.
"Form does of course come into the Grand National, but there are so many factors to take into consideration, so there is more to the race than just form.
"We'll see what happens with the weather, but I'd like to run him very soon."
