31/12/16 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Willie Mullins

12.15 Punchestown Childrens List 6/1

Childrens List (Ruby) goes for the 3m 1f beginners chase. He was disappointing last time but we are expecting an improved performance here. The ground will be fine for him and he will appreciate this trip. He should get into the money.

★★★☆☆

1.20 Punchestown Sure Reef 10/11

Sure Reef (Ruby) runs in the conditions hurdle over 2m 4f. Various problems have kept him of the track for nearly three years but on his day he is very good. This is a big ask after such a long absence and we will be happy if he returns sound.

★★★☆☆

2.30 Punchestown Herminator 6/1

Herminator (David Dunsdon) runs in the handicap hurdle over 2m 4f. He has been disappointing but he will handle the ground and trip. Hopefully, he will finish in the first three.

★★★☆☆

3.40 Punchestown Redhotfillypeppers 10/11

Redhotfillypeppers (David Dunsdon) makes her racecourse debut in the mares’ bumper over 2m 2f. She has won a point to point and works well enough at home. However, Dawn In The Park is a useful sort and could be the one to beat.

★★★★☆

Richard Johnson

12.00 Warwick Sparkling River 6/1

She’s yet to win over hurdles, although she did win a point-to-point back in February. This is her first start in a handicap and hopefully she can improve a little on her last run at Uttoxeter when she didn’t run too badly.

★★★☆☆

12.30 Warwick Copper Kay 5/4

Copper Kay is a mare I’ve always loved and the mares’ novices’ hurdle (12.30pm) looks like a great opportunity for her to get her second win of the season. I have been very pleased with her last two runs at Newbury where she’s run really well run well behind some very good mares. This is a step down in class and fingers crossed she’ll take all the beating. The step up in trip should suit her well.

★★★★★

1.35 Warwick Lilly Of The Moor 8/1

Lilly Of The Moor goes in the handicap chase (1.35pm) and was a decent winner at Warwick two starts back over two-and-a-half miles.

She will definitely appreciate the step up to three miles and will like the soft ground. It’s good that she has won at Warwick as it is a course that takes some jumping. She should have a fair chance in what looks an open race.

★★★★☆

3.20 Warwick Ice Cool Champs 7/1

He has done all the right things at home and hopefully will put in a nice performance.

★★★☆☆

Davy Russell

12.40 Newbury Welsh Shadow 5/1

I’m back on Welsh Shadow (5/1) in the novices’ handicap chase (12.40pm) and he’s slightly on the comeback trail having been a little disappointing last time. He ran a decent enough race at Ffos Las on his reappearance, but was definitely a little disappointing on his chasing debut at Haydock last time. I suppose he is bound to improve for that run, and the step up in trip and drop down into novice handicap class will also help too.

★★★☆☆

3.00 Newbury Kings Bandit 7/1

Kings Bandit (5/1) comes over from Ireland for the handicap hurdle (3.00pm) and he was in the process of running a really good race at Navan before crashing out last time. I hadn’t asked him any real questions at the time, although there were plenty going equally well around him. If that spill hasn’t knocked his confidence, I’m sure he can go well, although he is running off a higher mark in what looks a better race.

★★★☆☆

3.35 Newbury William Henry 6/5

He shaped with real promise at Cheltenham on his debut and I’ll be very disappointed if he’s not competitive here.

★★★★☆

Nicky Henderson

12.10 Newbury Percy Street 11/8

He’s come from Karl Burke where he was rated in the high 90s and stayed well on the flat and he’s a horse I like a lot. He has schooled well and it’s a nice race to get him started in. I like what he does and while I’m not saying he’s another Charli Parcs he’s a very nice Juvenile. He’s still a colt and has plenty of flat race experience and has done plenty of work. I’m very much looking forward to it to be fair.

★★★★★

12.40 Newbury Lessons In Milan 12/1

LESSONS IN MILAN was third on his first run back behind stablemate BEWARE THE BEAR at Newbury last time which was very encouraging. I would’ve liked to have gone to Haydock yesterday as the ground would have been in his favour as he really likes it soft but conditions shouldn’t be too much against him here and he will like the trip. This is alright for him and you’d be hopeful that he’ll come on for it and it’s about time he started winning races.

★★★☆☆

12.40 Newbury My Wigwam Or Yours 33/1

has had a couple of runs this season after having two years off and while he’s not been firing he’s really started to show some zest at home and is schooling particularly well. I think he’ll run well.

★★★☆☆

1.00 Warwick Buveur Dair 8/13

I was hoping to run him at Haydock on Friday but we had to go here instead. He has come out of Haydock very well and to be honest I was extremely impressed with what he did there – from what I could see anyway! He’s done plenty of schooling since and jumped very well yesterday so is fit and ready to go again. The ground will be absolutely fine for him; he’ll go on anything as long as it’s not like a road – which it won’t be here.

★★★★★

1.50 Newbury Cultivator 10/1

He was third on his first run over 2m4f in a G2 at Sandown last month and to be honest I think he could have won. He wants decent ground, which is why we’re coming here before it gets too soft and he has plenty of things in his favour. For much of the race at Sandown he looked very much like the best horse in it, although he didn’t win, but I’m more than happy to take on the winner again as things didn’t go our way and he got caught in a pocket and his jumping went a bit skew-whiff over the last couple and he got in a bit of a muddle. It is a very good race however and Cultivator needs to be at his best but that’s not to say he won’t! 

★★★★☆

3.35 Newbury William Henry 6/5

ran an absolute cracker at Cheltenham last time on his first run in over two years and my only concern is the dreaded ‘bounce’ factor, but there is nothing I can do about that and he seems very well in himself. He’s done plenty of work since and if he reproduces what he did at Prestbury Park he would have a big chance. 

★★★★☆

Nigel Twiston Davies

12.35 Uttoxeter Twist On Ginge 7/1

Twist On Ginge has only four appearances to date but has shown promise with two runners up slots over 2m. Stepped up to 2m 4f at Ffos Las last month, he tries 2m 7f today. Looks to have each way chances with improvement to come, Jamie Bargary rides.

★★★☆☆

1.15 Newbury Yanmare 4/1

Yanmare has run up a hattrick and gone up 22lb in the process including an 8lb rise for his last win at Towcester. He still goes from bottom weight here, will appreciate the trip and ground, and as another showing improvement has a very good chance here. Gavin Sheehan rides.

★★★★☆

1.15 Newbury I Am Colin 11/1

I Am Colin is up 7lbs for his win at Bangor last month which will make this a tough assignment, but an extra 2f up to 3m 2f will suit and he's showing improvement at the right time. Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle.

★★★☆☆

1.35 Warwick Muckle Roe 11/2

Muckle Roe is a consistent sort but last won over a year ago over 2m 7f from a mark of 109. He goes from just a pound higher today following a good run to be second last time at Ludlow a month ago. This looks to be a good opportunity and he can go close. A good run expected and Zak Baker takes off a valuable 7lbs.

★★★★☆

2.15 Uttoxeter Goodbye Dancer 20/1

Goodbye Dancer makes his chasing debut after 20 hurdles outings having won four, though the last over a year ago now. He's been running at 3m or more trips this year, but goes back to 2m 4f for this. Can show improvement for the larger obstacles and a good run expected, Jamie rides.

★★★☆☆

Martin Keighley

2.15 Uttoxeter Solstice Star 16/1

On to Uttoxeter today with Solstice Star hoping he has got his favourite heavy ground.  He's put up two perfectly decent performances so far over fences in tough races and he's in great form and we are going to Uttoxeter for the ground.  I would hope he would at least run into a place.  Birthday boy Killian Moore is on board.

★★★☆☆

David Pipe

2.10 Warwick Saint John Henry 17/2

Our six year old carries top weight of 11st 12lb less David Noonan's three pound claim.  He would have to improve on recent form but he has run well on this track last season so hopefully he can run well at an each way price.

★★★☆☆

2.15 Uttoxeter Herbert Park 20/1

He is an 8/1 chance in the paper on his chasing debut.  He won first time out this season at Worcester over 2m7f so he stays well and is another who could run into the frame

★★★☆☆