21/11/14

Nigel Twiston-Davies

Belmount

1:10 Ffos Las

The win was his debut over hurdles over today's course and distance, ground the same as today, Ryan Hatch aboard too, so proven over course, distance and ground should see him in with a similar chance. Though this is more competitive, he's sure to be thereabouts again, so another good run is expected.

★★★★☆

Willie Mullins

Turban

1:20 Haydock

Turban goes for the 2 mile conditions chase. He is suited by the race conditions and he will like the ground. This is his first runof the season but has been in good form at home. Hopefully, with a clearround, he will have the measure of his three rivals here.

★★★★★

Paul Nicholls

Valco De Touzaine

13:20 Haydock
Proved consistent in 2m novice and handicap chases at the beginning of last season before running below par at Warwick and falling at Ayr after the turn of the year. But he reappeared to finish a good third off a mark of 140 at Aintree on his reappearance, and hopefully he can be competitive again here today, though he is the lowest rated on official figures in here and 13lb below Turban. He has run well in testing conditions before, but is probably better on better ground.
★★★☆☆

Paul Nicholls

The Brock Again

13:55 Haydock
This is quite a competitive little race, as you would expect for the money, but I think The Brock Again will go well. He was in at Wincanton yesterday but we pulled him out because of the ground. The more testing conditions here will suit him a lot better and I thought that he ran a very promising first race for us at Sandown, travelling well until getting a bit tired from two out. He will be fitter and sharper for that run, and I quite like his chances.
★★★★☆

Lucinda Russell

Thorpe

1:55 Haydock

Thorpe makes his seasonal reappearance in the Listed Newton two mile novice hurdle. This is a tough ask for the four year old, but he has solid form last season as a juvenile and he should be fine on the soft going.

★★★☆☆

Richard Fahey  
Jollys Cracked It  
2.05 Ascot Jolly's Cracked It runs at Ascot tomorrow having won over course and distance three weeks ago. It's all about stepping stones and giving these novices experience at this early stage of the season. Hopefully it's a nice opportunity for him to do that and it'll be interesting to see the horse who finished runner-up to him, Nicky Henderson's Clondaw Banker, reopposing five pounds better at the weights. We were very pleased with the manner in which he won last time out and hopefully he can confirm that promise. Pure Oxygen won't run until next week and we'll be searching for better ground for him.
★★★★☆

Paul Nicholls

Virak

14:30 Haydock
Developed into a decent handicap hurdler last season, and delighted me when beating this week's Plumpton winner Deputy Dan at Fontwell on his chasing debut last month. I still feel a chase mark of 147 is pretty harsh on the bare form of his Fontwell win, so I am happy to go down the novice route for the time being. And as 2m6f on soft ground should be ideal for him - all his wins before Fontwell came on soft or heavy ground - hopefully he can go close here. Nicky's Golden Hoof looks the one to beat.
★★★★☆

Paul Nicholls

Vago Collonges
15:05 Haydock
Was a very smart performer in National Hunt races back in 2013, just being beaten in the Aintree bumper, but missed last season with a leg injury. So I was thrilled with his second to a decent horse in Thomas Brown at Exeter on his comeback, especially as I had left a bit to work on fitness-wise. Even on the form he showed at Exeter, he'd have pretty strong each-way claims in here, and I would be hopeful that there is more to come from him, too. May not want it too testing, but hopefully it won't be too bad here. This is a good little race though, with Jonjo's horse an expensive recruit from Irish points and Maximiser a wide-margin winner at Carlisle last time.
★★★★☆

Paul Nicholls

Abidjan

15:40 Haydock

Won a 1m4f bumper in France last summer, so has to carry a 7lb penalty here, but we thought that we had to take our chance with the race cutting up to just four runners. He actually joined us last season but we gave him plenty of time to grow into his frame - he was big and backward when coming to us - and goes nicely. Everyone knows that I let my bumper horses learn their trade on the track and he meets three rivals with fair placed form, but hopefully he will acquit himself well before we send him hurdling. Runs in a tongue tie.
★★★★☆

David Pipe Courtlands Prince 4 00 Ffos Las Courtlands Prince who takes in the closing bumper at 4.00pm. He has had one start to date when finishing a decent fourth in a big field at Exeter on good ground. There are a few promising types in opposition and the going today will be completely different - let's hope he can run well under Conor O'Farrell. ★★★☆☆

Michael Bell
Silver Mirage
4 40 Wolverhampton
SILVER MIRAGE at Wolverhampton. Hopefully we found a race she can be competitive in and finally get a win by her name.
★★★★☆

Richard Fahey
Lexington Bay
5 15 Wolverhampton
Lexington Bay gets our evening underway in the 32red Handicap. The six-year-old High Chaparral gelding has run well on the all weather in the past and this will be his first start on the Tapeta surface. He’s in good order and Tony gets the leg up.
★★★☆☆

Richard Fahey
Thermal Column
5 50 Wolverhampton
Thermal Column makes his debut in the 32red.com Maiden Auction Stakes and there’s a 10,000 Yearling Bonus attached to this seven furlong contest. A colt by Vale Of York, he’s ready to run and is sure to come on for the experience. Tony rides.
★★☆☆☆

Richard Fahey
Extraterrestrial
7.20 Wolverhampton
Only six of Extraterrestrial’s 86 career starts have been on the all weather, the last time being at Kempton in April 2012. He’s yet to get his head in front on the artificial surface but this is his first start on the Tapeta, he’s in great form and Tony is on board.
★★☆☆☆

Richard Fahey
Very Good Day
7.20 Wolves
Very Good Day ran ok the last day here and is taking a significant drop in trip to his previous runs. The seven-year-old is partnered by George
★★★☆☆

Julia Feilden

Handheld

7:20 Wolverhampton

He is very good on the green stuff but hasn't had many runs on the all-weather. He's in good form so we'll just wait and see.

★★★☆☆