Trainer Ross Burdon has a busy weekend, with Northcliff running at Goodwood, followed by two runners at Yarmouth on Sunday. Read his full insight exclusively for kwiff.
Ross Burdon Racing: Huge August 28th 2026 Update
As the summer looks to start winding down, and rain finally starts falling, the weather is making it very difficult to predict ground conditions for our runners.
I didn’t declare Mesaafi this weekend as I thought Sandown would become soft with the rain they were due, where as it now looks likely the meeting will be ran on good ground which is hugely frustrating for me, though no one is at fault, as Mesaafi is in great form after his Nottingham third and if he were to win he could well have snuck into the Portland Handicap at Doncaster on St Leger weekend, a race I’ve always felt was tailor made for him.
Ross Burdon Racing: Goodwood Bound
We did, however, declare Northcliff at Goodwood for their final Friday evening meeting of the summer despite the forecast suggesting the ground would be too soft. Thankfully that gamble has paid off as the Sussex track has missed almost all of the forecast rain and the ground is currently good to firm, which Northcliff tends to run his best races on. With Kaiya Fraser, who gave him such a fine ride at Newmarket two weeks ago unavailable, Tom Marquand takes over the steering.
Northcliff loves to get into a grind and Tom is a jockey im sure will get the best out of him, although there are a couple of up and coming sprinters in the line up, not least Viel of Clouds, who bolted up at Lingfield eleven days ago and can run here under a penalty carrying two pounds less than she should be. Cliff’s last two runs have seen him finishing second and while hes now five pound higher than for the first of those placings I feel his in a good place to give a good account of himself once more on a track I feel will suit his running style.
Ross Burdon Racing: Yearning for Yarmouth
This Sunday we are taking the team to the beach, but not on holiday! We have two runners at Yarmouth on Sunday afternoon, with Insuspense having her first start for the yard and Captive Beauty running on turf for the first time since she joined us.
We actually thought Yarmouth would get more rain than they have done, the forecast good to firm ground wouldn’t be ideal for either filly but there is a bit of rain due between now and Sunday and good ground would be perfect for both. Insuspense starts out for us over six furlongs, she’s been placed plenty but actually hasn’t won a race yet, something we are very keen to put right. She isn’t the easiest ride and can be very keen, but, even though I think she will improve for fitness after Sunday, I do think she is well handicapped from a mark of 62.
Captive Beauty comes back on to the grass for the fist time since moving across the Irish Sea after being bumped and knocked around from a wide draw at Lingfield last time, we thought she would run well that day although the way the race panned out she could do no better than midfield, although David Probert kindly looked after her when he knew he couldn’t win. Josie Gordon will ride her for the first time on Sunday, which will also be Josie’s first ride for the yard since she joined us a couple of weeks ago.
Ross Burdon Racing: Week Ahead
Next week will see us on the road again, with potential runners in Newcastle and Haydock. Director’s Cut and Dust Cover are both likely to head to Haydock later on in the week in search of softer ground conditions and Gifts Differing may have her second start for us at Newcastle. I myself, will likely be at Tattersalls all week, trying to find a potential star in the next crop of juveniles to come under the hammer as sales season starts to get into full swing with the Somerville Sale.
By Ross Burdon
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