Great Value Racing At The Go North Weekend

Features | 21^st March 2023

There might be a touch of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ about this week’s racing but there’s plenty
of action to help chase away the post-Cheltenham blues

The Final Countdown

It’s easy to tell we’re into the latter stages of the jumps season as there are an array of series finals taking place this weekend. The Go North series comes to a spectacular conclusion with finals across three days.

The races, named after some of the greatest jumpers to have been trained in the north of England and Scotland, will be filled by horses that have run in at least two of the qualifying contests. In each final there is £30,000 in prizemoney up for grabs. It kicks off on Friday at Musselburgh. The Scottish track hosts four of the hurdle race finals as the innovative series celebrates a season of excellent racing.

The Racing TV Go North Grey Bomber Series Final will see the four-year-old hurdlers battle it out to be crowned top juvenile. The stayers go in the Racing TV Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Final and, over the shorter 2m1f distance, the speed hurdlers will go head-to-head in the Racing TV Go North Sea Pigeon Series Final. The Racing TV Go North Lady Buttons Mares’ Series Final completes the quartet of deciders.

The show moves a little south to Kelso in the Scottish borders on Saturday. The BetVictor Go North Cab On Target Series Final, run over 2m5f, starts the day. The bumper horses get an unusually valuable pot to aim for in the BetVictor Go North Jodami Series Final.

Northern Power

Kelso also hosts another prestigious decider in the shape of the £50,000 BetVictor Herring Queen Series Final for novice mares. It was won last year by Nicky Henderson’s Theatre Glory.

The Go North series chase finals take place at Carlisle on Sunday. The two-milers will battle it out in the Go North One Man Series Final. The race is followed by the Go North Monet’s Garden Series Final over 2m4f and the 3m Go North Red Rum Series Final.

Money Up For Grabs

Newbury’s two day meeting, starting on Friday, also contains the final of a popular series. The Grade 2 EBF BetVictor NH Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle has been won by some of the best-loved horses in recent years, including Snow Leopardess, Roksana and Annie Mc. This year some of the best young mares will line up in the £50,000 contest.

That prize is overshadowed by the Goffs UK Bumper, worth a staggering £100,000, on the same card. It all makes for an important weekend of racing with the owners of hundreds of horses hoping to take home a trophy that has been months in the making. With competitive racing and excellent prizemoney, it is going to be an extremely exciting and enjoyable week of racing.