AMONG the many northern-based handlers who lodged hunter certificates at the Turf Club in the period under review is James Lambe. He has five horses ready to run including the Brian Smyth-owned Zip It Shrimpy, a four-year-old Le Fou gelding who the owner purchased at the 2016 Land Rover Sale at Goffs.

Stuart Crawford lodged certificates for nine horses including two of his own, the five-year-old Getaway mare Crawfords Mill, who finished fourth each time in three starts last season, and the newcomer Golan Warrior, a four-year-old Golan gelding bred by David Mitchell. Returning to the point-to-point sphere is Tom Topping’s 12-year-old Tikkanen gelding Yes Tom.