'Basically, this is our Cheltenham' - feelgood stories as Go North reaches its climax

Go North weekend, sponsored by Ladbrokes and supported by the Racing Post, is that rarest of things, a good idea that was universally well received and has turned out as well in practice as in theory.

Even rarer, although the Racing Post was there at its birth, credit must go mainly to the BHA, whose baby it was.

The authority was responding to a jump racing review carried out ten years ago, which highlighted that the north was struggling to compete with the rest of the country.

One recommendation was setting up an industry-wide group to reinvigorate northern jump racing. That in turn led to the creation of season-long series culminating in spring finals, realistic targets for those who train in the region and also providing three days of competitive racing to showcase northern courses.

All smiles: Lone Star and Joe Williamson in the winner's enclosure at Musselburgh

Lone Star and Joe Williamson after their Go North Musselburgh victory in 2023Credit: John Grossick

Hence the series of hurdles and chases that lead to £30,000 finals at Musselburgh, Kelso and Carlisle, named after northern greats such as Jodami, Red Rum and Sea Pigeon.

Of course, not even the BHA is immune to a pandemic and the year of planning that went into the first Go North Weekend in 2020 counted for nothing when all racing was called off in the covid shutdown.

Being forced to stage the initial showcase behind closed doors 12 months later also rather defeated the object.

But the three years since have shown what a good idea it was, throwing up numerous good stories along the way.

Les’s Legacy

Les's Legacy and jockey Dillan Hurst in the winner's enclosure after winning at Kelso for trainer Susan Corbett in 2023Credit: John Grossick

Dillan Hurst, a jockey without a win for 141 days and who was thinking of giving up, and Susan Corbett, a trainer on a ten-week losing run, combined for exactly the result the series was designed for at Kelso in 2023.

Hurst, who came from last to first on Les’s Legacy to take the Cab On Target Hurdle final, admitted: “It’s been very quiet and I’ve even thought of giving up at times but these are the days that keep you going.”

Lone Star

Lone Star and Joe Williamson after winning at Musselburgh in 2023

This was something of a fairy tale, an £18,000 mare whose joint-owners came together only because their original horses were injured.

Lone Star made it five wins in six starts when landing the mares’ final at Musselburgh in 2023, delighting trainer Phil Kirby, who had long hoped to land a race named after his former star Lady Buttons.

And she was a hugely significant win for conditional jockey Joe Williamson, whose career had not gone as he had hoped and took time out for personal reasons for a while but is now going from strength to strength.

Uptown Harry

Uptown Harry and Ross Chapman win at Carlisle in 2023Credit: John Grossick

He was running thanks to the fluke that his two previous outings happened to be qualifiers but that did not stop Uptown Harry giving Jane Walton her biggest win in a dozen or so years as a trainer.

His battling win in the Go North Monet’s Garden Series Final Chase at Carlisle in 2023 also ended a 682-day losing run for the five-horse Northumberland yard, two months after the death of Walton’s father, the former trainer Alistair Charlton.

Going Mobile

Going Mobile and Jonathan England (left) win at Carlsile in 2023Credit: John Grossick

One of the Sam England Racing Club’s 12 members was watching on from Australia in the middle of the night as the outfit’s Going Mobile took the One Man Chase series final at Carlisle in 2023.

The series is a fine way to sell a £500-a-year club membership, particularly if the trainer had raised expectations by landing two finals on the same occasion the previous year.

The Navigator

The Navigator won at Kelso in 2022Credit: John Grossick

Lost his confidence when falling in the Sea Pigeon Hurdle final in 2021 but was nursed back to form by underrated Cumbria trainer Dianne Sayer, who won the race with him 12 months later and said: “This is a great initiative. Basically, it’s our Cheltenham.”

Sunday Soldier

Sunday Soldier and Ritchie McPherson win at Musselburgh in 2023Credit: John Grossick

It took her seven hours to get there and she was 36lb higher in the handicap than on her first visit but nothing was going to stop Sunday Soldier, who completed a five-timer with victory in the Go North Lady Buttons Mares’ Hurdle Final at Musselburgh last year.

She was racing off a BHA mark of 114, having been rated 78 when she started her winning sequence for Gloucestershire trainers David Killahena and Graeme McPherson in December.

Killahena said: “This is fantastic for a small yard like ours. We’ve had only 86 runners this season.”