Key Irish runners abroad this weekend There's some quality racing from Newbury on Saturday afternoon over jumps alongside the remainder of the Go North Series finals at Kelso (Saturday) and Carlisle (Sunday). Below we have identified some of the key Irish runners targeting races in Britain this weekend. - Rockstown Girl — Newbury 3.15 Saturday - Blue Du Neuf — Newbury 4.25 Saturday - Ottizzini — Kelso 1.50 Saturday McCann targets Newbury prize Monaghan-based handler Anthony McCann isn't noted for his UK raids but he'll be sending ROCKSTOWN GIRL to Newbury from his base near Castleblaney for the Grade 2 BetVictor British EBF 'National Hunt' Mares' Novices' Hurdle. The mare gained her second hurdles win when obliging at Chepstow (2m3½f, soft) in novices' company back in October. From there, her sights were raised towards a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November and she was still moving with plenty of purpose in that 2m5f Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle coming to three out, where she hit the deck. Well beaten in December in a Listed event at Punchestown, she has been given a break since and will have Oakley Brown taking a handy 5lb off in the saddle when she competes from a mark of 121 at Newbury. Crawford debutant worth a look In contrast to McCann, Stuart Crawford is very much a trainer that is noted for his UK raids and he's sending debutant BLUE DU NEUF into battle in the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper later on the Newbury card. He'll be running in the double green silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, strong supporters of Crawford's team, and has multiple winners in his pedigree. He was picked up for £30,000 at the Goffs Sales in 2023 and will be sporting a tongue tie on this racecourse bow in a decent contest. He's one to monitor in the market as he attempts to cede experience to some of these rivals. Ottizzini heads for Kelso Listed contest Crawford is a regular at Scottish tracks and he's got OTTIZZINI in the mix for the Ladbrokes 'Big-Value You Can Bet On' Mares' Hurdle, a Listed contest at Kelso on Saturday afternoon. She won at Ayr over 3m½f on her seasonal return in November before being pulled up in the valuable handicap at Haydock not long after. She's only had one start since, finishing second behind the re-opposing Wyenot at Doncaster in a Listed Mares' Hurdle in December. She'll get 4lb from that rival now and could be set to go well fresh. Wyenot, trained by Henry Daly, followed up her Doncaster success by going on to finish third behind Jessica Harrington's Jetara in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle back at the same venue in late January. Ottizzini will almost certainly need a career-best to win this Kelso prize but it’s a valuable race, with over £23,000 to the winner, and just the six runners have been confirmed. She's second-best on ratings and the Crawford team may quietly fancy she can run a big race. Get €40 in FREE bets with the William Hill sign up offer:
