Trainer Ross Burdon is back and bursting to go at the start of the new flat turf season. Read his latest update before a busy period of racing exclusively for kwiff.
Ross Burdon Racing: Grand National Day 2026
Last week saw the end of the all-weather season and we were represented at Lingfield by Mesaafi, who made his return to action after a three month break by running in the All-Weather Sprint Vase handicap. Despite only finishing eighth from his wide draw, in stall eleven of the twelve runners, I was actually relatively pleased by Mesaafi’s performance, he was only beaten four lengths in an ultra competitive field.
And from what we’ve learnt about Mesaafi since we’ve had him is that he is rarely at his best off a break of three weeks or more. George Wood, who was riding Mesaafi for the first time, reported him to be feeling in good form despite the troubled run and thought if he would have ridden him before he may have done things slightly differently to help encourage him.
Ross Burdon Racing: New Recruits
Over the next weekend and early next week we have a busy time coming up, starting with a new recruit, Just King High, running at Southwell on Saturday evening. Just King High has been with us for a few weeks now, having run well on his two previous outings for former trainer Tom Faulkner. The hope is that we can continue his current progress, and hopefully even improve it, to get the horses head back in front for the first time since his two year old days. Will Carver, who has been in to ride out recently takes the ride and we would love to give Will his first winner since returning from injury.
After winning a valuable Sunday Series race last season, we are aiming to land one of these valuable races again this year, with Dust Cover making the long journey up the A1 to Musselburgh. Dust Cover has had a small break since winning at Kempton in February and makes his return to turf in what looks like a very tough race, which is to be expected for the prize money on offer. We are hopeful he can continue his progress back on grass but Velvet Sky has winning course form and will be difficult to beat. Paddy Bradley, who has won twice on Dust, keeps the ride and will be hoping that the long journey pays off.
Ross Burdon Racing: Waistcoat
On Monday, another horse who has had a break, Waistcoat, makes his return, running at Leicester. Waistcoat showed career best form when winning at Chelmsford in January, and despite not showing up at Kempton a few days later, I would be hopeful he can make his mark off his current handicap mark, especially when he gets back on to the grass. If Waistcoat proves to be up to running well off his new mark then he will be targeted at the race Mesaafi finished second in at Ascot at their Victoria Cup meeting in May.
Ross Burdon Racing: Aintree Grand National
With the Grand National taking centre stage on Saturday the race looks more open than ever, thoiugh I do think Oliver Greenall has a very strong hand, saddling long time fancy Jagwar and Iroko. Personally I think Iroko will be better suited to the test of the Grand National than his stablemate, but I do think his owner JP McManus has the potential to have a special race with several well fancied runners taking part.
By Ross Burdon
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