Upbeat Morris sweet on new arrival Lemon

YARMOUTH trainer Craig Morris, who enjoyed his best year on the open-race circuit in 2025 including a first Category One victory courtesy of kennel star Chelms Bear, is looking to build on that success.

While his Birmingham Cup hero is close to a return to racing after recovering from a torn calf muscle sustained in last month’s semis of the Olympic at Hove, Morris is set to welcome another top-class addition to his ranks this week in the shape of Ireland’s Produce Stakes champion Lemon Joey.

He said: “He came up for sale and I’m delighted to say that owner Adam Williams stepped in and we were able to do the deal with Murt Leahy.

“He’s a Classic winner who ran at the highest level in Ireland, including finishing third in the Laurels final at Cork in November. We’ll get him in and settled, but he’s race-fit so we’ll look at possible targets such as the Kent Plate at Central Park in March.

“I may aim Chelms Bear at that as well. The track there may not be ideal for him, but there’s not really much else for him as we look to prepare him for the Derby at Towcester.

“We had a good year in 2025, and I was proud to make the top 20 in the overall standings despite only having a small team of open-race dogs.

“We’ve got some smart youngsters including a July pup called Droopys Assured who has already gone round Yarmouth in 27.60sec, and I’m hoping they’ll pick up some nice races.”

Morris is also represented at Romford on Friday night with Cartoonist and Chelms Charmer in the Essex Vase and Travel Safe, Caister Kay and Rockmount Nellie in heats of the Coral Silver Maiden.

“They’re all nice types and hopefully we’ll get a few through to the semis,” he added. “Cartoonist ran well to make the final of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove, leading a top-class field, but the 740m trip was a bit too far for him.

“If he can get into the race early over the 575m at Romford then he’d have a chance.”

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