Spadestep

Spadestep is a well-built gelding in training with Lucinda Russell, who showed plenty of promise in point-to-points before progressing into a consistent and likeable performer under Rules.

He made an immediate impression when winning his sole point-to-point at Loughanmore, travelling strongly throughout before showing a smart turn of foot to put the race to bed in decisive fashion. That performance marked him out as a horse with plenty of potential, and he was subsequently secured at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale by Paul McIvor on behalf of Old Gold Racing.

Spadestep settled in well to life at Lucinda Russell’s and made a promising start under Rules. He was narrowly beaten on his hurdling debut at Carlisle, finishing second by a neck, before again going close at Perth, only to be headed late on. He gained a deserved success at Hexham, where he made all and jumped with fluency and authority to see off his rivals.

He has since transitioned to chasing and has shown a similarly consistent profile. He finished second on his debut over fences at Aintree behind a well-regarded rival, Jordans Cross, who has since franked the form, before again filling the runner-up spot at Doncaster despite making a mistake. He continued in good form with two further seconds at Newcastle, each time finishing behind the same well-handicapped horse, before stepping up in class at Carlisle, where he stayed on well to finish fifth in a competitive Class 2 and shaped as though a step up in trip would suit. It was the first time he finished outside the front two in his career.

Spadestep is by Jukebox Jury, a multiple Group 1 winner who has become a leading dual-purpose sire, responsible for top-class performers such as Farclas and Il Etait Temps. He is out of Glibin, a five-time winner under Rules and a mare who has already produced the high-class Tommy’s Oscar, a 12-time winner rated 157.

He is a straightforward gelding with a willing attitude and has taken well to chasing, jumping accurately and giving his running each time. With his consistency, attitude, and the likelihood of further improvement over slightly longer trips, he looks well placed to build on what he has already achieved, and it should not be long before he is rewarded with another success.

Lucinda Russell grew up surrounded by horses competing in a variety of disciplines. Lucinda trains in the beautiful Kinross countryside half an hour north of Edinburgh. Lucinda started training Point-to-Pointers before getting out her professional licence in 1995.

Lucinda trains with her partner Peter ‘Scu’ Scudamore MBE, an eight-time Champion Jockey who rode 1,678 winners in a record breaking career. Together they have formed a partnership that has produced the most successful racing yard in the history of Scottish jumps racing. To date, Lucinda Russell has trained over 750 National Hunt winners including 17 Graded winners and triumphs at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. From 2009/10 season to the present, she is the leading National Hunt trainer in Scotland.

In 2017, she became an Aintree Grand National winning trainer with One For Arthur, ridden by Derek Fox - winning again in 2023 with Corach Rambler. She became only the fourth female trainer to do so and the first Scottish trainer since 1979. Lucinda was awarded an OBE for her services to horseracing in 2018.