'For the mid-range horse, this is their Cheltenham' - Go North Finals buzz grows

Fresh from success at the Cheltenham Festival, Lucinda Russell is already preparing for her next venture when she fields a fleet of hopefuls for this weekend's Racing Post Go North Finals.

The Kinross-based trainer holds 20 entries across the finale of the three-day series, which begins on Friday at Musselburgh and runs across Kelso and Carlisle on Saturday and Sunday.

"I'm hoping it will really get off the ground this year and it's really been building momentum," Russell said. "We've been trying to qualify a lot of horses, it's been the aim for them and that's exactly what the series is about. For the mid-range horse, this is their Cheltenham."

The series will deliver a total of £285,000 in prize-money across the three days and the growing backing behind the initiative has been welcomed by trainers and owners in the north.

"We have Cuban Cigar going for the Go North Grey Bomber Final on Friday (1.45) and he was bought especially for the series because we didn't have a juvenile to run."

"It shows what a series like the Go North can do when you put up decent prize-money," added Russell's partner Peter Scudamore. "You get owners like Gerry McGladery, who will go out and buy a horse for it. That's what the initiative deserves."

Big River: entered for Saturday but also has Scottish National targetCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

A familiar name that could appear on the racecard for Kelso's Saturday meeting is Big River (2.45), who has already landed eight wins at Kelso and is a popular regular to the Scottish Borders track.

Russell said: "The ground is safe for him and he's won so many at the course, he loves it. So he could either go there or the Scottish National, but either way he's in good shape."

'Corach Rambler is lethal at the moment'

Russell has three entries for the Scottish National on April 2, with last year's winner Mighty Thunder and Ultima hero Corach Rambler also in the provisional line-up.

"With Mighty Thunder set for the Grand National, it's looking more likely that Big River will be our Scottish National runner," Russell said.

"Corach is really fresh right now and is just looking so good. It's a choice between Aintree and Sandown for him as I don't think four miles around Ayr would be entirely fair having just run at the festival.

"He's lethal at the moment. He was goose-stepping down the gallops today with Scu; he's in that great form."

Corach Rambler: landed the Ultima Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham FestivalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Russell enjoyed a memorable Cheltenham Festival, with Corach Rambler delivering a devastating last-to-first performance under Derek Fox before Ahoy Senor powered through the muddy conditions to chase home L'Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase the following day.

The Grade 1 winning novice chaser could join Corach Rambler in the trip to Aintree, where a possible rematch against Bravemansgame is on the cards, a year on from Ahoy Senor's breakthrough success in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

"I was delighted with Ahoy Senor at the festival. He'll have an entry at Aintree, that's for sure. Like Corach, he was pretty enthusiastic today; he was flitting with his heels out all the way down the gallops. They've both come out of their races so well.

"The festival was just a fantastic experience. People were so grateful to be back. I didn't notice the size of the crowds to start with but I certainly noticed them when Corach won, the noise was unbelievable.

"I couldn't be happier with how the end of the season is shaping up. If you saw the place this morning, every horse is fresh, the yard is all ready to go for the weekend, and we've cut the work right back so they're just doing canters. It's carnage out there – they're zooming around and no-one can stop.

"Everyone is just in a really good frame of mind and it's lovely to be a part of."

Read these next:

'This has been the aim the whole season' – Aye Right team eyeing Go North riches

Kelso boss hails Go North, 'a healthy development for racing in the north'

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday