27/12/16 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Willie Mullins

12.00 Limerick Some Neck 7/4

He was very consistent in bumpers and will love this trip. He would prefer better ground but it may not be too bad as this is the first race of the day. He jumps well and should put up a good performance.

★★★★☆

12.15 Leopardstown Meri Devie 7/2

★★★★☆

12.30 Limerick Chambord Du Lys 5/2

This is her hurdling debut but she has schooled well at home. She had good form in France and we are hoping for a good show.

★★★★☆

12.45 Leopardstown Kolumbus 6/1

Kolumbus (Paul) also fell on his hurdling debut but he schools well at home. The ground has come right for him and he should go well here.

★★★★☆

12.45 Leopardstown Bacardys 4/6

Bacardys (Ruby) was going very well when he fell three out on his hurdling debut at Cork. He jumped very novicey that day but if he settles into a good rhythm here he could be hard to beat.

★★★★★

1.20 Leopardstown Douvan 2/9

Douvan (Ruby) had an excellent first run of the season when winning at Cork and we will be disappointed if he doesn’t follow up here

★★★★★

1.20 Leopardstown Black Hercules 10/1

Black Hercules (Paul) was disappointing at Punchestown last time and we will just have to see what he can do today.

★★☆☆☆

1.55 Leopardstown Riven Light 15/2

Riven Light (Ruby) should also go well. He was a bit fortuitous when winning at Thurles but Ruby has opted to ride him here

★★★★☆

1.55 Leopardstown Saturnas 7/2

Saturnas (Paul) ran very well behind Airlie Beach in the Royal Bond three weeks ago and has a good chance here

★★★★☆

3.00 Leopardstown Sambremont 16/1

Sambremont (Paul) was running a good race until brought down at Navan last time and has each-way prospects here

★★★☆☆

3.00 Leopardstown Rolly Baby 20/1

Rolly Baby (Richie Deegan) has a real racing weight and his rider claims 7lb and has loads of experience from point to points.

★★★☆☆

3.00 Leopardstown Tennis Cap 25/1

Tennis Cap will be ridden by Niall Kelly who is good value for his 5lb claim. His careful jumping tends to let him down but he should run well.

★★★☆☆

3.00 Leopardstown The Crafty Butcher 6/1

The Crafty Butcher (Ruby) was third in a handicap hurdle at Navan last time and has a lovely weight here. Ruby has opted for him but he may have to put up 2lb overweight. He should go well but this drying ground is not in his favour.

★★★★☆

3.35 Leopardstown Ballyward 15/8

Ballyward (Patrick) has his first run for us in the bumper over 2m 4f. He has plenty of stamina in his pedigree so he should appreciate this trip. He is fit and well and should give a good account of himself.

★★★★☆

Paul Nicholls

12.20 Chepstow Persian Delight 7/4

Looked unlucky not to win on his debut over hurdles at Chepstow two months ago and the horse that beat him that day has already franked the form. That was Persian Delight's first run back after a year off and he is entitled to come on for it. A repeat of that run should see him go close.

★★★★★

12.40 Kempton Dreamcatching 3/1

Really nice prospect who won his bumper in the provinces in France before finishing third on his only hurdles start at Auteuil behind a very smart type who has gone to Ireland. While the ground at Kempton will be much quicker than he has encountered before we do like Dreamcatching who has been showing up well at home. I expect him to run tidily.

★★★★☆

12.50 Chepstow Ibis Du Rheu 13/2

Paid the penalty for being the only one to try to serve it up to Thistlecrack at Newbury just over a month ago. He jumped well on his debut over fences that day and briefly looked like challenging the favourite in the straight before tiring late on. Ibis Du Rheu knew for a week that he'd been in a race but we've given him time to get over it and he is fine now. He runs here off his hurdles mark so has to perform to his very best on his second start over fences which is tough when you think he is only five.

★★★☆☆

1.45 Kempton Marracudja 13/2

We are all playing for second place here behind Altior but ground conditions are in Marracudja's favour and he will better suited by the flat track at Kempton. I thought Marracudja looked a bit light in the paddock last time at Sandown where he tired in the closing stages. I've changed his routine since then and he has been going nicely up the hill at Ditcheat.

★★★☆☆

2.00 Chepstow Dolos 5/1

An exciting recruit who will make a chaser one day and could be jumping fences next season. He won really well on his first start for us before finishing a creditable third in a Grade 1 at Auteuil last time behind a superstar filly. Dolos jumps like a natural, loves his work and is shaping up to be a classy juvenile hurdler. He is a good horse who will be ideally suited by the galloping nature of the track at Chepstow and the likely soft ground so while I respect Evening Hush and Defi Du Seuil I do expect Dolos to be involved.

★★★★☆

2.40 Chepstow Unioniste 14/1

Is dropping down the handicap to a winnable mark and this has been his target since he came back into training this season.

I've always thought the Welsh National would suit this horse, particularly now that the ground will not be a bog. When I gave Nick Scholfield the choice of riding all mine at Kempton or coming to Chepstow for this one he was adamant that he wanted to be on Unioniste which is a tip in itself. Definite chance.

★★★★☆

2.40 Chepstow Vicente14/1

Has already won a Scottish National and would prefer quicker ground so the more it dries the better for him.

He was staying on dourly in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on his first start of the season and might have finished sixth but for falling late on. Vicente is normally a sound jumper, is a strong stayer and could run all right here off a career high mark if he copes with the conditions.

★★★☆☆

3.30 Kempton More Bucks 4/1

Is in the form of his life and has really taken to chasing this season, jumping soundly and winning three of his four starts. While he has shown he stays three miles he does tend to idle in front. I am hoping there is more to come from More Buck's, who is only six and is another of mine who will by suited by the combination of good ground and the flat nature of the track at Kempton. Big chance.

★★★★★

Nigel Twiston Davies

12.20 Chepstow Margarets Rose 50/1

Margaret's Rose makes her reappearance having been off the track since October 15. A point winner in Ireland, she showed promise finishing 3rd in a bumper, but in three hurdles finished 7th each time. Showed she is ready to return and improvement to come. Jamie Bargary rides.

★★☆☆☆

12.50 Chepstow Ballycross 9/1

Ballycross was a promising 4th on his handicap chase debut last time over course and distance, previously 2nd and 3rd in his other two chases and looks sure to show improvement again. This trip suits and the good to soft ground should also suit. Can go close, Jamie aboard.

★★★★☆

1.25 Chepstow Arctic Gold 10/1

Arctic Gold won nicely at Sandown last time, his 5th win over hurdles from 9 outings. He's gone up from 122 to 138 today in that time, but is still showing improvement, but Tom Humphries 7lb claim may prove useful here. Another good run expected.

★★☆☆☆

2.55 Kempton Thunder Sheik 16/1

Thunder Sheik won two hurdles in March and April going from a mark of 119 to 133, which seems to have proved restrictive in four races since. But back down to 127 here can see him more competitive and a better run is expected. Zak Baker rides and takes off a further 7lbs.

★★★☆☆

3.25 Wolverhampton Aldeburgh 16/1

Aldeburgh win over 10f at Nottingham two outings ago but finished last of 5 over the same course and distance last time when up 3lb to 81. Off of 83 here over a similar trip may look restrictive, but he has gone well on this track including a 3rd off this mark under the same jockey, Thomas Brown, so a good run expected with each way prospects.

★★★☆☆

Malcom Jefferson

12.55 Wetherby Master Of Finance 5/2

Master Of Finance aims to win under a penalty in the first race at Wetherby. He is in good form at home and has worked and schooled well. Cornbrough beat Robbing The Prey there and has good flat form and would be similarly rated over jumps to ours. They carry the same weight. The Skelton runner has form on the flat in Ireland and is higher rated but we are giving it weight. Nothing else really jumps out on paper except the Hemmings horse but that may want further.  It will be interesting to see who comes out on top!

★★★★☆

David Pipe

2.40 Chepstow Katkeau 33/1

Katkeau is the Pond House runner and he has 11-6 to carry.  He fell last time out at Newcastle but he is capable of smart form as he showed when winning a valuable Uttoxeter handicap from a mark of 143 in April.  He will be a big price but I have certainly backed worse outsiders than him.

★★★☆☆