Positive response as northern stables dominate Go North Weekend

The organisers of the Go North Series are looking to build on the success of the three-day meeting after receiving a positive response from participants over the weekend.

The Racing Post-sponsored initiative, which was launched in 2019, offered a total of £285,000 in prize-money, spread across three days at Musselburgh, Kelso and Carlisle, in an effort to increase the quality of racing in the north.

Many of the finals, which carried prize-money between £30,000 and £50,000, were won by northern stables including clean sweeps on the first and last days.

Kelso's managing director Jonathan Garratt said: "The feedback we've received has been really positive. The finals of the races stood up very well and were competitive, there was a lot of excitement from owners who had been targeting the finals for months.

"We had quite a number of racegoers who bought a three-day ticket to go to all three racecourses. We're just coming out of the pandemic and I think over time racegoers will get behind the notion of the series and the weekend will grow."

Carlisle's general manager Molly Dingwall said: "We're really pleased as the entries held up well and hopefully we'll attract a bit more support in a year's time as the series is constantly building.

"We had a wonderful crowd on a gloriously sunny day and it was great to see people coming to enjoy it. It's been great to work with Musselburgh and Kelso to share ideas and it has been a joined up process with GBR [Great British Racing] coming in to help too."

Croagh Patrick (centre) flies the last on the way to winning at CarlisleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Cumbria trainer Dianne Sayer welcomed the boost of winning one of the finals at Musselburgh on Friday with The Navigator, who is owned by George Bell.

She said: "It's a great initiative as it means there are really decent prizes available to a small yard like ours. Basically, it's our Cheltenham. I set my stall to have as many qualifiers as I could, so that was fantastic.

"George has been a great owner, he bought two and one didn't work out, so it's nice to get some prize-money going back into his Weatherbys account and keep him going a bit longer."

Trainer Sam England, who is based in Guiseley, won two of the finals at Carlisle on Sunday including with No Cruise Yet, who was ridden by her husband Jonathan.

"It was good to see a few of the finals stay in the north," the jockey said. "It's a good series offering something to aim for and we'll support it as best as we can."

GBR's director of communications Naomi Lawson said: "The Racing Post Go North Weekend is a brilliant initiative and one which Great British Racing is pleased to support through its promotional work.

"With top-class racing and excellent prize-money it really shines a light on northern racing and its multitude of stars, and it is great to see the three days so enthusiastically embraced by consumers and competitors alike."

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