Burrow Seven set for hurdles debut at Wetherby
Burrow Seven with Oakley Brown up
Popular charity horse Burrow Seven looks set to make his hurdles debut at Wetherby on Saturday, provided the ground does not dry out too much.
The Jedd O'Keeffe-trained five-year-old has an entry in the opening race on Saturday's card, the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novices' Hurdle (12.50), over an extended 2m 3f. He already has positive experience at the track, having finished runner-up in a bumper there last time out.
That run was an improvement on his Catterick debut effort, and being by Kayf Tara it was no surprise that he act on the heavy ground at the West Yorkshire track.
However, with little significant rain since, the going forecast for Saturday's meeting is good to soft and there is concern for O'Keeffe if the ground dries out any more. He was taken out of a race at Doncaster last week because conditions were considered too fast for him.
"Burrow Seven is in great shape and ready to run," O'Keeffe said.
"We'll be monitoring the weather forecasts and ground closely and as long as the ground doesn't get too lively for him, I think he'll be running.
"I'd run him on good to soft, preferably not faster than that and I'd definitely run him on slower.
"There was loads of promise (in his last bumper run), we were really happy with that and he can keep improving.
"His schooling has been excellent and we think a step up in trip will really help him too."
The grey is owned by the Burrow Seven Racing Club, which was launched in November 2020 to raise money for former Great Britain and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Rob Burrow's motor neurone disease Fight Back Fund.
Profits from the club are split equally between the MND Association and Leeds Hospital Charities, with funds raised so far totalling more than £100,000.
