Sky Bet Sunday Series: Barron team seek more glory at Hamilton

North Yorkshire based joint-licensees David and Nicola Barron saddled a double, with Jer Batt and On A Session, at the first Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture of the year at Musselburgh a fortnight ago, and are hoping for, rather than expecting more glory at Hamilton Park.

With Jer Batt set to compete from a tricky wide draw at Chester on Wednesday, it is left to the seven-year-old On A Session to take another step towards the much sought after £100,000 Sunday Series Bonus in the Class 3 Sky Bet Sunday Series Mile Handicap (5.15pm).

Nicola Barron explains; “Musselburgh was fantastic, it was a good day for everyone involved with the stable.”

“Unfortunately, though, according to the handicapper, this is where On A Session has to go next. He won from a mark of 84 at Musselburgh and, having been raised 6lb, is now back to 90. I think given the weights rise and coupled with a stiff extended mile, he was a better thing at Musselburgh than he’ll be at Hamilton.”

“He’s run some good races over a mile, but those runs have come at tracks like Thirsk and Lingfield, over a flat, sharpish mile. With the bonus to consider, we’ve got to play the game though, so we’ll go there and see how we get on. We’re in it, so we’ll have to give it a whirl!”

The lightly-raced filly Mereside Diva possesses an option in the Race To A Cure for Mnd Sprint Handicap (4.15pm). She met trouble at the start on her seasonal reappearance (also her handicap debut) before finishing off strongly on her first attempt beyond the minimum trip.

Barron is keeping everything crossed that she’ll get a run; “She ran well at Doncaster, running on really strongly approaching the line and arguably in another stride or so, she’d have got there.”

“It was a good start to the season, and she looks to have come on for the run but it’s just a case of whether she gets into the race. She’d be borderline from her handicap mark (66) but if she gets in, she’ll go there.”

“She’s been quite immature, both mentally and physically, and perhaps didn’t fully handle the hill on her last visit to Hamilton but I’m hopeful that she’ll take it better this year.”

Meanwhile Barron hopes to be doubly represented with Venturous and Huddle Up in the five-furlong Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap (5.45pm), although those plans do remain fluid. She explains; “Venturous would need the ground to dry up to be a serious contender. He is seeing his handicap mark fall - rated 8lb lower on turf than on the AW - as his age is going up, and in an ideal world he’d want the ground faster.”

“Huddle Up requires a stalls test at Thirsk on Thursday. He’s booked in to go there, so those two are in the lap of the Gods.”

“Huddle Up has always had little stalls issues, and unfortunately at Pontefract the other day, I don’t think it was entirely his fault. He went in and stood nicely before the horse next to him played up, which led to us playing up again. We didn’t need that! He’s scheduled to go to Thirsk for the mandatory stalls test and events there will dictate whether he’s allowed to run.”