Soumillon returns to winner’s enclosure at Chantilly

/by

Christophe Soumillon was successful on his first ride back in France since the end of his 60-day suspension for elbowing Rossa Ryan off his mount in September.

Riding Black Milord Tavel for trainer Eric Lecoiffier in the Prix de la Mare Madame over two miles at Chantilly on Saturday, the Belgian wasted no time in opening his account.

Unsuccessful in South Africa last weekend and on one ride in Meydan on Friday, Soumillon jetted back to his adopted homeland and struck at the first attempt.

The jockey missed lucrative spells in Hong Kong and Japan, as well as Ascot’s Champions Day and the Breeders’ Cup and had his retainer with leading owner the Aga Khan terminated as a result of the controversial incident at Saint-Cloud.

Having linked up with agent Herve Naggar, he will be hoping for a fresh start.

L’Homme Presse ruled out of Cheltenham Gold Cup

/by

Leading Cheltenham Gold Cup contender L’Homme Presse will miss the Festival showpiece in March, connections have announced.

The winner of six of his eight starts over fences, the eight-year-old had run a fine race in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day before unseating Charlie Deutsch at the last fence, where he just looked to be held at the time by Bravemansgame.

Last season saw him win twice at the highest level – in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He had reappeared this season with a fine weight-carrying performance in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and was behind only the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup market.

Charlie Deutsch celebrates with L'Homme Presse at Cheltenham
Charlie Deutsch celebrates with L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham (Tim Goode/PA)

A statement issued on behalf of trainer Venetia Williams and owners DFA Racing to the PA news agency on Friday read: “We have given L’Homme Presse some time to get over his exertions in the King George before carrying out some veterinary investigations which have concluded today.

“Unfortunately, these have revealed that he has a couple of issues that, although temporary, mean that he will not be able to run in this year’s Gold Cup.

“He will be given time and patience to recover fully and we will monitor his rehabilitation over the next few weeks before making a decision on any future races in the spring.”

Dubai first is another landmark for George Boughey

/by

George Boughey’s burgeoning career reached another landmark at Meydan on Friday as the Newmarket trainer enjoyed a first winner in Dubai.

Having recorded his first Classic winner last year with Cachet in the 1000 Guineas, it was the Mickael Barzalona-ridden Al Dasim – winner of his last two starts at Wolverhampton – who provided him with a maiden Dubai Carnival success when taking the Al Wasl Stakes by three lengths.

“It was obviously fantastic, our second runner in Dubai to be a winner. To have horses running all around the world and through the winter to have a nice team of horses to run in Dubai is fantastic,” Boughey told to Great British Racing International.

“He’s a horse who’s been targeted to come out here for a while. Sheikh Abdullah (owner) obviously wants to have horses running out here and he’s got a fantastic stable in Kuwait and in Saudi, and now to have a winner in Dubai is obviously great.

“He’s a horse who’ll probably head towards the Dubai Trophy in February. He’s shown an adaptability to run on turf and also on the all-weather, and it would be no surprise to see him run on the dirt.”

He added: “Everyone’s delighted and huge credit goes to my team out here – Ryan King and Charles Eddery who have the horses in great shape.”

Elsewhere on the card, Valiant Prince led home a Godolphin one-two-three in the Al Rashidiya.

The Dubawi colt was one of four runners carrying the royal blue silks in the Group Two, with Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor saddling a pair of contenders each.

Appleby was represented by Ottoman Fleet and Valiant Prince, the latter finishing powerfully under James Doyle to prevail.

Three-quarters of a length behind him was Bin Suroor’s Dubai Future, with Ottoman Fleet the third-placed horse by a further half a length.

“It was a big step forward on what he’s achieved in the past and I think he did a good job,” said Doyle.

“While we were drawn well and we had quite a cheap run round early, it got a bit hairy on the bend.

“It just meant the two in front just got away from us a bit, but it kind of suits him in a way – he doesn’t want to see loads of daylight.

“The way he picked up was quite a surprise to me. Once he got a bit of space he felt to me like he was always going to go and win comfortably.”

Perseus Way out in front in Chatteris Fen victory

/by

Perseus Way ran out an ultimately decisive winner of the Weatherbys Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle at Huntingdon.

Promising first time over timber at Cheltenham behind Scriptwriter and then a wide-margin scorer at Leicester, the Gary Moore-trained four-year-old was last seen finishing third to Comfort Zone and Dixon Cove in the Grade Two Finale Hurdle at Chepstow.

Keeping close tabs on Start In Front and Despereaux from flag-fall, Jamie Moore’s mount was driven to lead at the second-last and a perfect leap at the final flight went a long way to sealing matters.

Staying on strongly from there, the Olly Harris-owned 10-11 favourite had three lengths to spare at the line over Samuel Spade, who was far from disgraced under his 8lb penalty.

Paddy Power cut Perseus Way to 33-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle and to 14-1 for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – and it is the latter which appears the most likely target.

Plenty to celebrate after the victory of Perseus Way
Plenty to celebrate after the victory of Perseus Way (PA)

Moore said: “He is a very nice horse and I’m pleased he has done it well today. His jumping is getting better all the time, but it needs to.

“He is getting slicker and quicker and he is starting to enjoy his racing. It was a good run in defeat at Chepstow last time and I felt that Chepstow was probably soft enough for him. We rode him too far back that day and that is why we rode him handier today.

“I don’t think he is good enough to run in the Triumph, but I think he could have a strong chance in the Fred Winter. I may be wrong, I don’t know, but we will take it one step at a time.

“I’m very lucky to have the owner as he is a very good and understanding man. He listens to what I say which makes my job easier.

“He has invested heavily and he deserves all the luck he gets. Fair play to James Savage and Ted Durcan who bought the horse for him.”

Kateira (8-15 favourite) made it two wins in as many starts over obstacles with a bloodless success in the Weatherbys Private Bank Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Trained by Dan Skelton, Kateira had made a triumphant hurdles bow at Uttoxeter in November and jockey Harry Skelton rode with supreme confidence throughout this extended two-and-a-half-mile affair.

Kateira looks to have a very bright future
Kateira looks to have a very bright future (PA)

The six-year-old travelled sweetly into contention, grabbing the initiative before the second-last and accelerating clear, with Skelton taking a long look round on the run to the line.

Winning owner Jackie Chugg said: “That was absolutely brilliant. I’m so pleased as we bred her as well. The mare (Raitera) has had four separate winners including El Presente, who Kateira is a half-sister to. We got the dam in France about 15 years ago from Deauville.

“Kateira should have won today, but she had to carry the penalty and prove herself and she did exactly that. Dan has always thought the world of her. She had to prove plenty today, but she has gone and proved it.

“Dan had a plan before the race to come back here for the Sidney Banks (on February 9) and that’s where she will go next.”

Raffle Ticket outbattled Jay Jay Reilly by a neck in the Weatherbys Hamilton Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

The 11-4 shot had to dig deep for Alex Edwards, but the Mel Rowley-trained Raffle Ticket just prevailed after a thrilling battle in a race that had a sad postscript with news The Cob had suffered a fatal injury.

Lorcan Williams has plenty to look forward to on big day at Warwick

/by

Lorcan Williams has two leading Grade Two chances at Warwick on Saturday as he will take the rides on both Complete Unknown and Knowsley Road.

Both horses are trained by Paul Nicholls, for whom Williams works, and are at the head of the market for their respective races.

In the eventmasters.co.uk Hampton Novices’ Chase, Williams will ride Complete Unknown, a seven-year-old who made his chasing debut at Ffos Las under Harry Cobden in late December and secured a neat victory with a fluent round of jumping on soft ground.

The success was a third career win Complete Unknown, whose last triumph was in the EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown in March with Williams in the saddle. The pair reunite at Warwick, as Williams’ mount steps back up to three miles on ground that will be testing.

“He looked like he’d taken to jumping fences well last time at Ffos Las, having come with a late run. Harry Cobden gave him a great ride,” Williams said of the horse’s latest outing.

“Three miles is only a positive, he’s a horse that relishes difficult conditions like heavy ground. It was soft at Ffos Las over two-miles-five the last day and he did his best work late on.

“He’ll love the ground and there’s only really positives to come from that Ffos Las run. I’ve ridden him in the past and I’m looking forward to getting back on him.”

The contest has only attracted a field of four, with Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux looking to bounce back after being pulled up in Grade One company at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer making the trip over from Ireland.

“The horse of Dan Skelton’s didn’t jump too well last time out and underperformed, but Complete Unknown has beaten her before over hurdles around Ascot,” Williams said.

“Gordon Elliott’s runner is a bit interesting, he’s had three runs over fences so he’s the experienced runner in the field.

“Complete Unknown has got every chance, he’s a talented horse and if he puts it all together he should be the one to beat.”

Williams has then got a second enviable ride in the Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle, with Knowsley Road looking to maintain his unbeaten record over timber.

The six-year-old was the runner-up on his bumper debut and then won next time out on the level, both times under Williams, after which he graduated to hurdling at the start of the season.

Winning his first start under Cobden, the bay then defied a penalty to prevail again when Williams took the ride in a Chepstow novice in December.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have ridden Knowsley a few times in his career, he’s a very talented young horse,” he said.

“I have always thought a lot of him and he probably shouldn’t have been beaten in first time out in his bumper at Exeter but we were still learning a bit about him.

“The bumper wasn’t the be all and end all as you can see, he’s two from two over hurdles and two-miles-five around Warwick should really suit him.

“He’s a lovely, big scopey horse and I don’t see him having any problems in the conditions.

“He seems to have taken his races well and only seems to be wanting further. He’s stepping up (in trip) and Paul’s had this plan with him for a long time.

“When I rode him the last day he was only idling in front, he was hanging to the left but only through greenness. He’s a lovely horse who I think a lot of and if he turns up on the day he should also be the one to beat.”

:: The Wigley Group Classic Chase Day this Saturday is celebrating 50 years of the Classic Chase. To find your local raceday visit tp://www.greatbritishracing.com/fixtures

Warwick assignment looks ‘perfect’ for Galia Des Liteaux

/by

Galia Des Liteaux looks to have plenty going for her when she attempts to get back on track in the eventmasters.co.uk Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

The Dan Skelton-trained seven-year-old made a blistering start to her chasing career when sauntering to a nine-length success in a mares’ Listed contest at Bangor which teed up a tilt at the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

The daughter of Saddler Maker failed to fire in the Boxing Day Grade One, with early mistakes ultimately putting Galia Des Liteaux on the back foot before Harry Skelton pulled her up before four out.

However, Skelton believes shadows created by the bright winter sun could have played a part in her jumping errors during that contest and reports he has no concerns about her jumping having been well schooled since.

He said: “I think this trip and track is perfect for her and all the rain is a positive for her as well – I don’t have any negatives.

“She didn’t get very far in the Feltham (Kauto Star), but that was really because she made a few mistakes early on and Harry thinks she might have pitched off at a few shadows which I think a couple of other horses had a problem with on the day as well.

“She’s done lots of jumping since and we’re not worried about that at all.”

Paul Nicholls has won this the past two years with smart staying chasers and Complete Unknown, who landed the Grade Three EBF Final at Sandown in the spring and made a taking debut over the larger obstacles at Ffos Las, could complete a hat-trick for the Ditcheat handler.

Complete Unknown, here ridden by jockey Lorcan Williams on their way to winning the European Breeders’ Fund Paddy Power ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown, made a taking fences debut at Ffos Las
Complete Unknown, here ridden by jockey Lorcan Williams on their way to winning the European Breeders’ Fund Paddy Power ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown, made a taking fences debut at Ffos Las (Steven Paston/PA)

The champion trainer told Betfair: “He won very nicely on his chasing debut at Ffos Las. He’s a point-to-point winner and he won the EBF final at Sandown last year on soft ground so the track and the ground won’t be a problem.

“I would like to think if he jumps well he will have a nice chance.”

Gordon Elliott brings over The Goffer as he looks to emulate Willie Mullins’ victory for Ireland with Black Hercules in this race in 2016.

The six-year-old beat a subsequent Grade One runner-up when opening his fencing account at Thurles in November and was not disgraced in a competitive heat at Fairyhouse last time out.

A small but classy quartet is rounded off by Stuart Edmunds’ Gentleman At Arms, who was second in the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last spring and will appreciate the return to three miles for just his second appearance over the larger obstacles.

“He goes there with every chance and if he jumps like he did at Leicester we think he should run well,” said Harriet Edmunds, assistant trainer to her father.

“We think the trip was too short for him at Leicester so now he’s back up to three miles he should run well. He has won on heavy before, but it might depend on how testing things get as he isn’t overly big.

“He ran well at Warwick in the Grade Two Leamington as a novice hurdler last season, so it would be nice for him to do the same.”

Pic D’Orhy chasing another big Saturday success for Nicholls

/by

Paul Nicholls looks to hold all the aces in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase as he seeks to win the Kempton contest for the third time.

The Ditcheat handler has been in unstoppable form of late and could add further big-race Saturday success with Pic D’Orhy who heads the betting for the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

The seven-year-old won the Pendil Novices’ Chase over course and distance last season and made it two from two for the current campaign when making all to land the Peterborough Chase in fine style at Huntingdon last month.

“He wouldn’t want the ground going too soft, but he won the Peterborough as he liked last time, beating a sensible field at Huntingdon,” said the champion trainer’s stable jockey, Harry Cobden.

“I know he’s not the highest-rated horse in the world, but I think he’s still improving actually.

“He’s just turned eight and he’s got a bit of scope to improve.

“The betting has got it right on form – he’s got to be the one to beat, I think.”

Also representing the all-conquering Ditcheat team is Saint Calvados, who proved much too keen when making his first appearance for owner-rider David Maxwell in the two-runner Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot in November.

David Maxwell will ride Saint Calvados in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase
David Maxwell will ride Saint Calvados in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (John Walton/PA)

“The hood will quieten him down and I imagine he’ll be less strong with a few more runners – he needs a bit of cover,” said Maxwell.

“He’s nice, but I must admit I was a bit surprised by how strong he was when I rode him at Ascot. This should suit him a bit better, he should get a decent pace and I think he’ll go well.

“I’m just going to steer round tucked in third or fourth and see how we go, but I think he’ll go well and obviously Paul’s horses are in great form.”

It was Coole Cody who denied Saint Calvados at Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival winner is once again raced in graded company by handler Evan Williams.

“It’s a very very competitive race, but I don’t want to run him in handicaps where he’s giving chunks of weight away,” said the Llancarfan-based handler.

“So we’ll just keep trying our best in these types of races and see how we get on. He’s a smashing old horse and he’s been brilliant.”

Fergal O’Brien’s Paint The Dream was an emphatic 14-length winner at Newbury when last sighted, a victory that makes him highest-rated runner in the field.

Tom George’s course winner Clondaw Castle was second in this contest two years ago and drops back in trip having failed to land a blow when swimming in deep waters in the Betfair Chase, while the six-strong line-up is rounded off by Angels Breath, who makes his stable debut for Sam Thomas following 1,121 days off the track.

Skelton full of hope for big run from Grey Dawning at Warwick

/by

Grey Dawning will look to continue on an upward curve in the Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick on Saturday.

The Dan Skelton-trained gelding has been beaten only once in five runs under rules so far, winning two bumpers and two hurdles.

His last victory came in a two-mile-five-furlong Kempton handicap, where he came home a length and a half to the good on soft ground.

Conditions are likely to be equally testing, if not more, in the Grade Two at Warwick, but Skelton is confident the grey will not be deterred by the ground.

“I’ve had this race in mind for a while and we took in Kempton en route,” he said.

Grey Dawning and Harry Skelton
Grey Dawning and Harry Skelton (John Walton/PA)

“That was a handicap but obviously he showed really good form there by winning.

“The track and trip will be no issue and he handles really soft ground so that should be fine for him as well.”

Gary Moore’s Givega brings his unbeaten record to Warwick and looks to extend that run of form up in class.

The seven-year-old is from the same family as Willie Mullins’ brilliant mare Quevaga and has won his two novice hurdle contests by a combined 18 lengths.

Moore said of his charge, who is also a point-to-point winner: “It’s a big step up in grade and a big step up in distance but I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t stay, he’s got plenty of stamina in his pedigree and he’s going to get the ground that he likes so you would hope he goes there with every chance.

“As long as he settles in the race – he can be a little keen at home. But if he settles well he should be fine.

“He’s a horse I like a lot. I think his year will be next year more than this year when he goes over a fence and he’s one to look forward to. I know he’s a seven-year-old now but he’s got very low mileage.”

Lucinda Russell’s Snake Roll won a Newcastle novice by 13 lengths last time out and was third to subsequent Tolworth winner Tahmuras in a Listed contest at Haydock prior to that.

He now steps up in trip slightly in trip from his most recent run and Russell is hopeful that he will fare well on testing ground.

“I think this step up in trip will suit him,” she said.

“I’m happy with the ground, he’s got quite a round action so he will cope with the heavy ground.

“It’s going to be very different to all three of his races he’s had for us so far and with the distance it’s going to be a staying event where he will probably not get his own way in front like he did with his two wins.

“He’s a lovely horse and one that really in a way we’re playing for time before we go over fences with him, but he’s shown much more talent than we could have hoped, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Tom Lacey is represented by Ginny’s Destiny, a seven-year-old son of Yeats who has last seen winning a novice contest over course and distance in November.

The bay will be ridden by Stan Sheppard, who has partnered him in all but one of his four career starts.

“He is top-rated in the race and if the handicapper has it right then he should win,” the jockey said.

Tom Lacey's Ginny’s Destiny
Tom Lacey’s Ginny’s Destiny (David Davies/PA)

“One or two in there have a bit more experience than he does, but he has come on a lot mentally since his first start at Aintree this season.

“He did more wrong than right that day, but then he put it all together at Warwick last time. He travelled really well and though he had a good look when he got to the final hurdle he won smartly.

“I schooled him two days before he ran at Warwick last time and he was much more settled at home. He seems to have grown up a lot and Aintree just took the edge of him.

“It is definitely not a negative having that course form behind him as we know that he handles the track. The ground might be a bit softer than when he won there before, but that shouldn’t be a problem either.”

Green light for Irish raider after ferry problems threatened to derail Lanzarote bid

/by

Green Glory is primed to continue his progression in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle after overcoming travel problems.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Irish raider was a bumper winner at last year’s Punchestown Festival and following some encouraging efforts in defeat in maiden hurdles finally opened his account on handicap debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

That saw the six-year-old head the betting for this competitive affair – but inclement weather interrupting the ferry schedules had put his participation in doubt.

However, having battled the wind and rain, Byrnes reported Green Glory had made it to the Sunbury track safely and he can now look forward to seeing how he gets on in this £100,000 contest.

“He’s OK, he arrived at Kempton at seven o’clock Friday morning,” said Byrnes.

“They took him on the half eight on Thursday night, but they were waiting for an hour and a half at Holyhead going into dock, so instead of the sailing taking three and a half hours it took five hours. Then the drive down was windy enough.

“But he’s there now that’s the main thing and he should have enough time to recover.

“We’re looking forward to the race now, hopefully the ground doesn’t come up heavy, but it is what it is. He has a nice weight, but it is a step up in grade from a novice handicap to an open handicap.

“It’s a nice pot and he’s in good form, so we’ll hope for the best.”

The best of the home contingent could well be Paul Nicholls’ Outlaw Peter, who followed up a second in the Persian War by romping to a 19-length success at Exeter in November.

Outlaw Peter could give Paul Nicholls a fourth win in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle
Outlaw Peter could give Paul Nicholls a fourth win in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“I think he’s got a good chance,” said big-race rider Harry Cobden. “I’m not saying he’s well handicapped, but I think he’s got a good, fair mark and he’s in good form. He could be a horse that might just progress a little bit.

“It’s a big field, so we’ll have to have our wits about us.”

Harry Fry’s Dubrovnik Harry and Alan King’s Greatwood Hurdle third Harbour Lake are others high up in the betting lists, while Dan Skelton has had this race in mind for West Balboa for some time and believes his seven-year-old has a “fair chance” of hitting the target.

He said: “I think she’ll like the track. I’ve had this race in mind for her for a while and I think she has a fair chance.”

Ben Case’s Cobblers Dream will attempt to become the first horse in the race’s history to retain the Lanzarote Hurdle as he reverts to the smaller obstacles.

“He just didn’t jump as well as I would have liked over fences in his first two starts,” said Case.

Kempton Park Races – Saturday 15th January
Cobblers Dream ridden by Jack Quinlan goes on to win the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton Park last year (Steven Paston/PA)

“He hasn’t run badly, he just didn’t run brilliantly and it was either we continue pursuing jumping fences and hope he gets better as he goes along, or go back over hurdles and I thought we would do that and revisit fences if we wanted in the autumn.

“Timing-wise the Lanzarote suited and seemed to fit in if we were to go back over hurdles.

“You couldn’t say he has done badly at the beginning of this season and he obviously did well last year. It’s just we knew we were on an upwards curve last year and whether we have got to our handicap mark or not we’ll find out on Saturday.

“I think it will be quite hard work round there on Saturday, so it’ll be a test for everybody.”

Jane Williams’ string is in fine form and she believes Hermes Boy could be ideally placed if conditions turn testing at the Sunbury track.

She said: “He’s got the right sort of profile for the race and we think he wants a bit more of a trip. He’s had a couple of really nice runs recently, his last two have been super.

“The horses are flying at home, he seems really well and this was always a tentative target for him. We’ve won it a few times in the past and it’s our sort of race really.”

“The conditions are spot on and at the end of the day you can only train your own horse, so if you think the conditions are right then you have to give it a go.

“We’re lucky we just got in at the weights, we’re a bit on the low side and we would prefer to be a bit higher in the weights. But actually, if the ground does come up soft or gets really bad, our horses seem to cope with it and we have a nice weight for dealing with those conditions.”

Meanwhile Joe Tizzard’s Scarface has been foot-perfect this season and looks to seal a hat-trick on his handicap bow.

“We were odds-on for his return and he had to win and then at Ascot last time he did it the hard way,” said Tizzard.

“It didn’t suit him making all and he was dossing and that. He made a mistake at the last and then battled back.

“So he’s done good and we just thought we’d have a crack and see where we are handicap wise.

“I think he’s got a manageable mark and he’ll love the ground. Two-mile-five round there on hard-work ground will be right up his street.”

Guetapan Collonges steps up in intriguing Classic Chase

/by

Guetapan Collonges looks to prove his stamina in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained gelding has been rising through the ranks since graduating to steeplechasing, winning three of his past four outings over fences with the sole loss caused by a fall.

He has been incrementally stepped up in trip and will progress to an even longer distance in the three-mile-five-furlong Classic Chase.

Bred along the same lines at Grand National winner Neptune Collonges, staying power should be no issue for the gelding and under a relative featherweight of 10st 3lb, he lines up with a live chance.

“I’m looking forward to see him going, to be honest. It is a step up in class, but he seems very fit and well in himself,” Longsdon said.

“It is a big ask. A big step up in grade, but he is in a handicap, so it can’t be the wrong race.”

Guetapan Collonges has track form under his belt having won at Warwick last time, and has jumped with increasingly fluency as his career has progressed.

“He produced a nice run at Warwick last time, especially since he over-jumped the last and stumbled a bit and got back up and won nicely, going away,” said Longsdon

“I’m looking forward to it. He is the sort of horse for all those Nationals and he stays all day, but there is nothing set in stone. He is that sort of horse – a National horse.”

Adrian Heskin and Threeunderthrufive
Adrian Heskin and Threeunderthrufive (Tim Goode/PA)

Carrying top-weight is Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive, whose Coral Gold Cup bid came to an premature end when he unseated Adrian Heskin at the first fence.

An alternative run in the Welsh Grand National did not come to fruition as he was felt to be a little off his best when declarations were made, but connections are hoping he will develop in a National horse and that Warwick is a successful stepping stone to that target.

Iain Turner, racing manager to owners the McNeill family, said: “He’s in really good shape. Ideally he wouldn’t want to be carrying 12st in what is increasingly bad ground, but he doesn’t qualify for Taunton next week, for the Portman Cup, so we need to get cracking with him.

“Possibly his best novice chase appearance was on the same card last year, when he won the Grade Two (Hampton Novices’ Chase).

“Ever since he won at Cheltenham as a novice chaser, Paul said he was a National horse in time and I think that what we always had in mind.

“Newbury didn’t go to plan. It will be interesting as this is handicap company and quite a big field, bigger than most of the races he’s run in so far. These are all things he’s going to have to learn if he’s going to be going for a National.”

Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard
Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard (David Davies/PA)

Sam Thomas’ Iwilldoit will run for the first time in over a year as he teams up with jockey Stan Sheppard.

The 10-year-old won the 2021 Welsh Grand National when last seen, proving his stamina at Chepstow in testing ground.

A comeback victory would be especially significant for the Thomas stable as the trainer was involved in a helicopter crash in November along with owner Dai Walters.

“To win this for Sam would be great given everything that has gone on in his life over the last few months,” Sheppard said.

“Stolen Silver hit the cross bar for him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and hopefully we can go one better and give him another big-race winner.

“It was a very good day last season winning the Welsh Grand National. It was worth getting down to 10st 4lb, which I hadn’t done for a long time.

“In races like this you need a lot of luck to go your way as more things can go right than wrong.”

Chris Honour is represented by Grumpy Charley, an eight-year-old last seen claiming a tough win in soft ground at Newbury.

Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver (left)
Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver (left) (Nigel French/PA)

The grey seemed to relish both the conditions and the three-mile-two-furlong trip, and a repeat performance under James Bowen make him a contender on ground currently described as heavy.

“It wasn’t the plan to go to go here, we were going to go for the Peter Marsh next week but the weather’s not looking great,” Honour said.

“He feels very well in himself, he’s eating very well and so we thought we’d take a chance.

“When things are in his favour he’s very good. He loves soft ground, three-mile-five in heavy ground is going to be hard work, but if he runs like the last day… He was really galloping for us and he didn’t come home excessively tired.

Grumpy Charley during his hurdling days
Grumpy Charley during his hurdling days (David Davies/PA)

“It’s not ideal, 14 days in between races, but sometimes you’ve got to go with what you’ve got and he’s very well at home.

“We’ll take our chances, the prize money is there and you can’t begrudge the prize money if you don’t go for it when it is there! We’re hopeful.”

Willie Mullins sends Mr Incredible over from Ireland, with Richard Hobson set to run Lord Du Mesnil and Ben Pauling fielding Nestor Park.

Venetia Williams’ Commodore will line up along with Henry Daly’s Fortescue and Sandy Thomson’s Dingo Dollar.