Stable star could give club Lincoln triumph

7:50am Friday 12th January 2007

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WHEN Loulou Nivernais hits the heavy Wetherby turf in the Jamaica Handicap Chase tomorrow it will have hundreds of fans willing it on to cross the winning post in triumph.

The six-year-old gelding is the latest runner for the Pocklington-based Viking Racing Club, which is going from strength to strength both on and off the gallops.

Run by professional punter Carl Harris (pictured), the club, which runs its stable mainly with northern trainers and on northern tracks, has signed up more than 800 members in its two years of life.

And its progress, which has resulted in a total of 15 winners, was confirmed this week when stable star Bailieborough was confirmed as an entrant for March's William Hill Lincoln Handicap at Newcastle.

Bailieborough, who won the Weatherbys Bank Handicap at Catterick in September 2005, is based with Malton trainer Brian Ellison and has already struck four times for the club.

In the seven-year-old, who will compete in the Lincoln if the ground is good to firm, Harris, 36, believes he has a live contender for Flat racing's traditional curtain-raiser.

"We have 11 horses in training but Bailieborough is the real star," he said. "He's won 13 times in his career and he's on his highest ever mark of 86. Blythe Knight won the Lincoln last year off a similar mark so, although he wants good to firm ground, he's definitely got a chance.

"It's a fantastic race and Bailieborough has hacked up at Newcastle in the past so it will suit him."

But Lincoln dreams aside, it is Knavesmire where Harris and club members are longing for a winner this season. "It would be a dream to win at York," he added.

"We've been very unlucky with Bailieborough and it was the ambition when we set the club up two years ago to win at York.

"We've got some good prospects. Turn of Phrase won nicely at Newcastle and we've got two youngsters Little Miss Georgia and Lansdowne. Hopefully it will be another successful year for the club."