Dettori looking to ‘solid’ Country Grammer for Saudi Cup glory

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Frankie Dettori has already won one of the world’s most valuable races on Bob Baffert’s Country Grammer and he now has his sights set on another in the Saudi Cup.

The pair combined to land the Dubai World Cup last year, when Dettori replaced Flavien Prat who had steered Country Grammer to second behind shock winner Emblem Road in Riyadh.

Of course this will be Dettori’s last ride in the race, the fourth renewal, as he brings the curtain down on his storied career.

Yet despite all the greats he has ridden in almost 40 years in the saddle, Country Grammer will have earned him more prize-money than any other should he win the first prize of over £8million.

“He is very solid. He never runs a bad race, and touch wood he doesn’t start now. He was second last year, he is tough,” said Dettori.

“He has travelled before, so that’s a plus. He is solid and I’d be foolish to say I’d be confident, but I am very pleased to ride him and you know he will give his best.

“He gave me the same feel (in the mornings) as he did (on Boxing Day at Santa Anita). Bob Baffert and Amr Zedan (owner) skipped the Breeders’ Cup Classic as it would have been a tough task to beat the good horse (Flightline), so he has been basically aimed for these two races, this one and Dubai, so this was always the plan.”

Dettori’s biggest threat arguably comes from within, as Baffert and Zedan also run Taiba, a multiple Grade One winner in the States and the mount of Mike Smith.

“Taiba is also very solid, he has little mileage on the clock. He is a horse I feel is still improving,” said Dettori.

Bob Baffert has two big chances in the Saudi Cup
Bob Baffert has two big chances in the Saudi Cup (Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia/Doug De Felice)

Baffert said of the year younger Taiba: “He just has so much quality. He will do what you want – he can go forward or come from off the pace – I don’t worry about him.

“He’ll fool you, because he’s such a lazy work horse in the mornings and is so laid-back, but when he gets in that gate and the lights turn on – that’s when his light turns on.

“Charlatan (second to Mishriff two years ago) was a brilliant horse with just brilliant speed, but he got into a speed duel with Knicks Go, which cost him the race, but this horse has speed and stamina.

“He is tough to ride and that’s why Mike Smith had to really get him out and get him going last time in the Malibu. Once you put him into the race, he has the stamina, and that’s why, when he missed the break (when third) in the Breeders’ Cup (Classic), it hurt him. He wasn’t going to beat Flightline, but it cost him second.”

He went on: “I think both horses are doing really well. Country Grammer is a horse who always runs his race. Frankie knows him really well and if the horse shows up, he’ll get the job done if Taiba doesn’t. This horse has never been better – he’s a better horse this year, I think – and he likes this track, which is really key.”

One striking thing to have emerged in the short history of the Saudi Cup meeting is the success of the Japanese-trained runners and they are back in force once more.

Six-year-old Cafe Pharoah will be ridden by Brazilian ace Joao Moreira, and his trainer Noriyuki Hori said: “Being realistic, this is probably one of the strongest races on dirt in the world.

“When you offer very high prize-money, it attracts the best horses. However, this horse has impressed me in his track work.

“I know we are challenging good horses, but I have faith in regards to how the horse has run. He is there for me.”

Yoshito Yahagi took Panthalassa to Dubai last year and he dead-heated with Lord North in the Dubai Turf, now he is on dirt.

“The tactics are just one thing – that’s go to the front. Number one gate dictates this,” said Yahagi.

“The track is deep, like a Japanese track. It is deeper than last year. It is not good for Panthalassa.”

Jun Light Bolt may be the best of the Japanese and he will be ridden by Ryan Moore, who teamed up with him for the first time on Friday morning.

“He concentrated on cantering and seems to be in his best condition. He also handled the surface well. I am delighted that connections offered me a ride on a horse with serious chance. I’m looking forward to a big run with him,” said Moore.

Joanna Mason secures third in International Jockeys Challenge

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The fourth edition of the Saudi Cup meeting kicked off with a fascinating International Jockeys Challenge which went down to the final race, with Britain’s Joanna Mason narrowly denied by Luis Saez.

Mick Easterby’s granddaughter was in contention throughout the four handicap races, each worth $200,000 to the winner.

It was crack US jockey Saez who earned enough points to pocket a $100,000 windfall for finishing on top of the leaderboard, sealing his success with his second runner-up placing of the night in the final event, with Mason only managing fifth place with the former Ed and Simon Crisford-inmate Labeebb.

Saez led form the first race, when coming late and fast aboard Wajaab to pip the Mason-ridden Najm Alenaya in the last 200 yards.

Mason, 32, turned the tables and was tied at the top when landing the second race aboard Medbaas. Saez finished runner-up aboard Kareem, then edged ahead in the competition with a sixth-placed effort before his second runner-up finish of the evening.

Panamanian roder Saez, who rode at the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting in 2020 and is a veteran of over 2,600 winners, said: “It is wonderful to come here. I am proud to come to Saudi Arabia and it is fantastic to be part of the Jockeys International Challenge.

“The horses ran well and it was great to win. I am very happy.”

Mason was far from disconsolate, despite eventually being pipped for second by star Japanese rider Yuga Kawada.

She said: “To finish third was amazing. To even be part of the challenge was amazing and to win would have been the best.

“I didn’t get the best of runs in the last race, as I got cut up on the rail. I’ve had to take back. I wouldn’t have been a winner, but I would think I would have been in the first four and got placed points, but that’s racing.

“To be third is better than nowhere. I’m the only girl on the leaderboard, so I can’t complain. Doing it for the girls!”

Mason has a happy knack of producing the goods in these jockeys’ challenges. She was a winner at Ascot’s Shergar Cup last year.

“The Shergar Cup was amazing, interacting with the girls there. I love travelling and going to these different countries and representing the UK and the girls.

“To ride a winner is amazing. Caitlin Jones won this last year and it was amazing. It is doing our little bit for the girls.”

In a country where the barriers for putting women on equal terms with men are slow to come down, Mason feels time and a heightened profile for women riders will help her sport, at least.

Joanna Mason was successful at the Shergar Cup last year
Joanna Mason was successful at the Shergar Cup last year (John Walton/PA)

“It has all been about stereotyping,” she added. “Definitely in the UK, the likes of Hayley (Turner), Hollie (Doyle) and Nicola Currie, we have a strong ladies’ contingent. Put us against the boys and you can’t tell.

“We are definitely breaking down barriers and there is still a little bit (of resistance) there, but we are fighting our way and hopefully the rest of the world can continue that.

Joanna Mason and Luis Saez/Riyadh
Joanna Mason and Luis Saez were locked in a thriller (Simon Milham/PA)

“It is not all about who is stronger and fitter. The girls are just as balanced and have a racing brain on them, and hopefully we can prove them all wrong.”

Mason returns home on Sunday and will be a regular on the all-weather tracks, rather than heading to Dubai.

Yet she continues to build her profile and hopes she will be invited back to Saudi next year.

Luis Saez/Riyadh
Luiz Saez pocketed $100,000 for winning the Jockeys Challenge (Simon Milham/PA)

She added: “No one I ride for has horses out in Dubai, but another year and to have the opportunity to ride out there would be amazing.

“This experience has been great. I’m doing well in England and can’t complain. I’m up there with the top females and if I can better last year and get involved in things like this next year, it will be amazing.”

Moore eyeing National Spirit hat-trick with Goshen

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Goshen has been tasked with helping Gary Moore win a third Betgoodwin National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday.

The Moore family first won the Grade Two contest at one of their local tracks in 2017 with Camping Ground and added to their tally 12 months ago when the now-retired Joshua Moore partnered his father’s Botox Has to a game success over race regular Brewin’upastorm.

Now it is the turn of their stable stalwart to uphold family honour, while Jamie Moore will have the chance to write his name on the roll of honour.

The unseasonal dry spell means conditions will once again be against the ever-popular seven-year-old, who also has to tackle his old nemesis of racing left-handed. But encouragement is taken from two high-quality hurdling appearances this term, which are sandwiched by a pair of lacklustre outings over the larger obstacles.

He surged clear of the reopposing Brewin’upastorm to record an eight-and-a-half-length victory in the Ascot Hurdle in November before backing it up with a strong second behind Paisley Park in the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle on Boxing Day and his handler believes Goshen deserves plenty of credit for the way he has acquitted himself, despite being yet to race on his favoured ground.

“He’s had a brilliant year. He’s done really well and on not one day has he had the ground in his favour yet,” said Moore.

“The trip will be fine for him. It’s the wrong way round, but there’s just not that many options for him. He’s in the long-distance hurdle race at Cheltenham, but I feel that’s a waste of time.

“There’s no point leaving him in the stable and there’s not that many runners either so he has got to take his chance.”

Knappers Hill, here winning at Sandown, attempts to get back to winning ways in the Betgoodwin National Spirit Hurdle
Knappers Hill, here winning at Sandown, attempts to get back to winning ways in the Betgoodwin National Spirit Hurdle (Nigel French/PA)

Sceau Royal returns to hurdles having failed to feature in the Dublin Chase earlier this month and he will be looking to reverse Elite Hurdle form with Knappers Hill, who was two and a half lengths clear of Alan King’s consistent veteran when they met at Wincanton earlier in the campaign.

Paul Nicholls’ charge has seen his form slightly tail off since his early-season heroics, but is proven over this trip and hails from a yard that is always well represented in this £80,000 contest.

Brewin’upastorm won this in 2021 before going down by just a head when defending his crown last year and Olly Murphy will be hoping his 10-year-old enjoys the tight turns of the Sussex track for a third time.

“He’s come back from a severe wind operation but seems in good form and galloped well this week,” said the Warren Chase handler.

“He will just improve for whatever he does at Fontwell as it’s been a bit of a tight squeeze to get him ready for this race, but we’re looking forward to running him and if he comes back to his old self, there’s no reason why he can’t run really well.

“He probably should be two from two in the race, he was unlucky in it last year and we’re looking forward to running him in the race again.”

The select quintet going to post is rounded off by Dan Skelton’s Proschema, who was a clear-cut winner of the West Yorkshire Hurdle in the autumn, but was pulled up on his next start in Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle.

Lord North setting the standard in Winter Derby

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Lord North will be cramped odds as he attempts to go one better than last year’s second in the BetUK Winter Derby Stakes at Lingfield.

The seven-year-old has won eight times in an 18-race career, but had to settle for the runner-up berth behind Alenquer when sent off the 6-5 favourite 12 months ago.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained son of Dubawi used this Group Three contest to tune up for the Dubai Turf last season and his rider Robert Havlin has indicated that will be the plan once again – with the stable stalwart and former Royal Ascot winner reported to be showing plenty of zest in his work at home.

“We are happy with him at home,” said Havlin.

“It was a good stepping stone to start him off on the road to the Dubai Turf last year so we are taking the same route. Personally he feels a little bit brighter than he was this time last year, a little bit sharper in his mind, so we are hoping for a big run.

“I think I’ve ridden him seven times, won four on him and finished second twice so he’s a horse I know really well and I’ve ridden him his last few pieces of work and he’s in a good place.

Lord North ridden by James Doyle (right) wins the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2020
Lord North ridden by James Doyle (right) wins the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2020 (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“He’ll improve a lot for the run, but I just feel he is in nice form and that little bit further forward than he was last year so I can’t wait to ride him.”

The Clarehaven team have won this three times in the last four years and their three-strong squad for this years race also includes 2021 winner Forest Of Dean.

The Godolphin-owned seven-year-old had reopposing stablemate Harrovian (third) and William Knight’s King Of The South (fifth) behind when winning a Newcastle All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier last time and is the mount of South African jockey Collen Storey, who will be attempting to complete his ambition of winning a Group race in the UK.

He said: “Forest Of Dean is very well in himself. I sat on him again on Thursday morning and he had a bit of freshness in him. I actually think he has come on a bit from Newcastle.

“Rab rode him quite handy when they won the Winter Derby a couple of years ago, whereas at Newcastle I dropped him in and he flew when I pulled him out. It was impressive the way he quickened up.

“I won a stakes race in Zimbabwe on a filly called Raven Girl and have placed in a few other Stakes races as well. It is hard to get rides in these big races and I am very excited for this opportunity. With a bit of luck, hopefully we can pull it off.

“After I won on Forest Of Dean at Newcastle, I said my aim is to ride a Group winner over here. If I could tick that off, I would like to see what the year ahead is able to give me.”

Tyrrhenian Sea won three times on the all-weather last season and returns to 10 furlongs for the first time since finishing second in the Easter Classic at Newcastle last April.

“He’s in good form,” said trainer Roger Varian.

“Obviously Lord North is very much superior – not just of us, but all of the horses in the field on ratings and he will be a very hard horse to beat. But I think we measure up with the rest of the field on ratings and he deserves his place in the line-up.

“He’s training really well, his all-weather form is very good and we’re hopeful of a good run.”

Andrew Balding’s Fox Tales has plenty of back-class but has fitness to prove on his first start since August, while the field is complete by George Baker’s recent Bahrain hero Lucander and John Ryan’s Pistoletto.

Mullins’ pair dominate Bobbyjo Chase line-up

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Willie Mullins’ duo of Kemboy and Carefully Selected headline the tote Fantasy Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

The pair, both 11, head the market for the Grade Three contest, run over a trip that just exceeds three miles and a furlong.

Perennial top-level poerformer Kemboy has made two Grade One starts this term, finishing second to Conflated in the Savills Chase and then coming home sixth in the Irish Gold Cup earlier in the month.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said of the bay: “Kemboy has been dropped in class with no penalties.

“The conditions of the race should suit him very well, hopefully the ground won’t be too slow for him. He’s been in good form since Leopardstown and he should run very well.”

Willie Mullins' Kemboy
Willie Mullins’ Kemboy (Niall Carson/PA)

Carefully Selected is Aintree-bound for the Grand National in April, with the Bobbyjo recognised as a trial for the big race and named after the 1999 winner.

Mullins’ gelding landed the Thyestes Chase at Gowran when last seen, another pointer to the National, and will look to gain even more experience at the weekend as he is lightly raced for his age.

Mullins said: “For Carefully Selected this is a great Grand National trial, he gets in with no penalties either.

“He’d prefer slower, softer ground. That will suit him well, the trip will suit him well, he came out of Gowran in good form.

“We’re trying to get a run and some experience into him before Aintree, so this race suits perfectly for him.

Carefully Selected at Cheltenham
Carefully Selected at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

“He knows the track – a big, galloping track should suit him.

“We’d be expecting big runs from the two of them.”

Also involved is Martin Brassil’s Longhouse Poet, another who is National-bound and returns to fences having been run three times over hurdles this season so far.

Gordon Elliott is set to run Pencilfulloflead, third in the Thyestes, and the Gigginstown House Stud-owned grey Farclas.

Enjoy D’Allen will represent Ciaran Murphy’s stable, with Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier, Paul Gilligan’s Glamorgan Duke and Stuart Crawford’s Now Where Or When completing the field of nine.

Clondaw Castle aiming to regain Coral Trophy crown

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Clondaw Castle has some big boots to fill as he bids to become trainer Tom George’s second dual winner of the Coral Trophy at Kempton on Saturday.

The three-mile contest has a prestigious roll of honour, with the great Desert Orchid (1990), the ill-fated Gloria Victis (2000) and two Grand National heroes in Rhyme ‘N’ Reason (1988) and Rough Quest (1996) all previous winners.

Only two horses have won the race twice, with Docklands Express claiming back-to-back victories in 1991 and 1992 before George’s popular grey Nacarat struck gold in 2009 and 2012.

Nacarat also won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and the Aintree Bowl for the Slad-based trainer, who has high hopes for Clondaw Castle in this weekend’s feature event.

Nacarat winning at Kempton
Nacarat winning at Kempton (Steve Parsons/PA)

The 11-year-old was a clear-cut winner in 2021 and in his next three races he finished second in the Bowl at Aintree, third in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and fourth in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

He subsequently spent 14 months on the sidelines but made a promising return when second in Kempton’s Silviniaco Conti Chase in January, setting him up for a bid to regain his Kempton crown.

“He had a good comeback run. It was a nice run over what was probably an inadequate trip for him and on ground that was a bit softer than ideal,” said George.

“We know he likes the track and three miles and this has been our target. His comeback run proved he retains his ability and he’s been in great form since, so fingers crossed.

“Nacarat won it twice, so let’s hope Clondaw Castle can follow suit.”

Also bidding to become a dual winner is defending champion Cap Du Nord.

Christian Williams sends the 10-year-old back into a battle just seven days after winning a valuable prize at Ascot. He carries a 5lb penalty for that success, a burden that is offset by the booking of talented Irish conditional Cian Quirke.

Williams said: “We’ve been very lucky with Cap Du Nord, I bought him off a good friend of mine and he’s looked after me. He’s been a wonderful horse from the day we got him, a great horse – he wins a big race for me every year.

“It’s wonderful prize-money and we try to support the race with a runner.”

Annsam winning at Ascot
Annsam winning at Ascot (Nigel French/PA)

Cap Du Nord disputes favouritism with fellow Welsh raider Annsam. The Evan Williams-trained gelding was pulled up 12 months ago and must contend with a 7lb rise in the weights for winning by 17 lengths over the course and distance on his latest appearance.

“He’s grand – he’s in great old form. He was pretty impressive the other day and we’ll have another go,” said the Llancarfan handler.

“We know he likes it round the track. He made a very bad mistake early last year – he stretched for the second and it was game over after that.

“We said before his last run that if we ran well, we wanted to try to get here.

“It’s a very competitive race, it’s full of very good horses and all we can do is have a damn good go.”

Frodon is one of three runners for Paul Nicholls
Frodon is one of three runners for Paul Nicholls (Niall Carson/PA)

Having previously claimed the race with Gungadu (2008) and Rocky Creek (2015), champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a strong hand in his bid for a third success, with top-weight Frodon joined by Saint Calvados and Enrilo.

The admirable Frodon drops in grade after finishing third in the King George and fifth in the Cotswold Chase on his two most recent outings, as does Saint Calvados after a fourth-placed finish in the Silviniaco Conti Chase. Enrilo, meanwhile, has not completed in his last three races.

Nicholls told Betfair: “Frodon is back for more at the track where he famously won the King George VI Chase in 2020 and finished third in it last Boxing Day.

“While he is still a few pounds too high in the handicap and has to carry top-weight, you know he will always go out and perform for you and he is bound to be competitive.

“With his owner David Maxwell on the injured list, Harry Cobden gets to ride Saint Calvados for the first time since their decisive victory in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown last April.

“I thought he ran all right last time at Kempton last time on very soft going that he hated when fourth behind Pic D’Orhy. It’s the first start for Saint Calvados in a handicap for a while and he must have a big chance over three miles on the better ground that he needs these days.

“Angus Cheleda will be claiming a handy 5lb off Enrilo who has a lovely, light racing weight. He does, though, have something to prove now after an underwhelming season.”

Jacamar won at Kempton on Boxing Day last season and was victorious on his most recent appearance at Leicester. His trainer Milton Harris believes he could outrun his odds.

Jacamar on his way to winning at Kempton
Jacamar on his way to winning at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

He said: “He’s not without a chance. He’s consistent, he ran well in a competitive race at Cheltenham before winning at Leicester and we’ve always had it in the back of our minds that he might be a three-miler.

“The ground conditions will be right for him and he seems in a really good place.

“It’s going to be hard to win, but it’s a very open race I would say.”

Subjectivist primed for high-profile Saudi return

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A horse who has been off the track for over 600 days and a veteran jockey with only a handful of rides in the past six months are chasing a prize of over £1million as Subjectivist lines up in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh.

Subjectivist had just cemented his position as the leading stayer of his generation when winning the Gold Cup at Ascot in 2021, following up an utterly dominant display in Dubai.

He subsequently sustained a tendon injury which has kept him off the track since and at one point there was talk of retirement. There was never any thought of retirement for 52-year-old Fanning, though, who has only just come back from a shoulder injury picked up in June.

Since Subjectivist was last seen, Charlie Johnston was added to the licence by his father, Mark, who then retired, leaving his son in sole control.

“It is a feeling of the unknown,” said the younger Johnston.

“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t feel we would be competitive. Can I have the same confidence I had two years ago? No. This horse is coming back from a serious tendon injury, a tendon injury that in a lot of cases is career-ending. It is not like a bone injury that you know would have repaired to 100 per cent.

“There will be a reasonable number of the field who would not want to be particularly aggressive. Stall 13 wouldn’t have been my first choice of where to jump from, but it is what we’ve got and we just have to make the best of the situation.

“The horse seems in good fettle with himself and it’s all systems go. I think he is showing the signs of a horse who has spent 20 months away from the track and he was always quite a difficult horse to lead up, particularly on a raceday going back a couple of years, so it doesn’t concern me to see him full of himself. In fact, I’d much rather see him like that than the other way.”

Other UK interest in the race includes John and Thady Gosden’s Ebor winner Trawlerman, the mount of Frankie Dettori.

Trawlerman (white hat) was given a peach by Frankie Dettori to win the Ebor
Trawlerman (white hat) was given a peach by Frankie Dettori to win the Ebor (Mike Egerton/PA)

Thady Gosden said: “He’s an Ebor winner who was able to make the step up to Group class when he was third in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot, so you would like to think he will continue to develop into a good stayer.

“But this is a very good race, not least with the return of Subjectivist, and he faces very tough competition in a very competitive handicap.”

Karl Burke’s Al Qareem, David O’Meara’s Get Shirty, Andrew Balding’s Nate The Great and the Ian Williams-trained Enemy also run.

All eyes will be on George Boughey’s Missed The Cut in the Neom Turf Cup given he beat Algiers in his prep race.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge has made giant strides in Dubai subsequently, giving Boughey plenty of confidence.

He said: “We’re happy with him. He beat the Dubai World Cup favourite (Algiers) on the all-weather at Lingfield back in November and he comes here in super shape, so we are looking forward to it.

“The Algiers form is obviously good form. Algiers has taken his form to a different level on the dirt in Meydan and this is a whole different kettle of fish for Missed The Cut. It is a tight 10 and a bit furlongs around the turf here. He has got plenty of pace and I’m hoping he should go well.”

Saeed bin Suroor’s pair of Dubai Future and White Moonlight, the Gosden-trained Mostahdaf and William Knight’s stalwart Sir Busker are other familiar names lining up.

In the 1351 Turf Sprint, Richard Hannon runs both Happy Romance and Lusail, while Charlie Hills is represented by Garrus and Pogo. Japanese runner Songline looks the one to beat having won the race 12 months ago.

Eva’s Oskar continues National prep with Eider outing

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Eva’s Oskar will line up for the Vertem Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle on Saturday as the Randox Grand National beckons.

The Tim Vaughan-trained grey produced a career-best performance to land the Dahlbury Chase at Cheltenham in December, a victory that brought into focus the major staying targets throughout the spring.

The Welsh Grand National was considered and ultimately vetoed in favour of a tilt at the Grand National itself at Aintree, en route to which the gelding was scheduled to stop off at both Sandown’s Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase and Saturday’s Eider.

The Sandown run resulted in a fourth-placed performance Vaughan hopes will leave the horse perfectly poised for an Eider bid that will itself lead to the National.

He said: “He seems in great form, I’m hoping the ground is genuine good to soft, which I think he’d love. The extra trip should should bring plenty of improvement and we’re excited to get going and have a go.

Eva’s Oskar(left) during the Dahlbury Handicap Chase at Cheltenham
Eva’s Oskar(left) during the Dahlbury Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

“We won at Cheltenham and then we had to decide whether we were going to go for the Welsh National or what other route we might want to take with him.

“I had in my mind to go to the Grand National and I wanted to work backwards from that, so we swerved the Welsh National and went to Sandown.

“He probably needed that run, just to put the finishing touches on him with the aim of having him cherry-ripe for the Eider. It’s a well-trodden path, the Eider to the Grand National, so it made sense.

“I put in entries for the Midlands National and for Cheltenham, just in case we thought he wouldn’t get in then we had to change our plan, but we’re pretty adamant the Grand National is our route after this.”

Of the slowly-run Sandown contest, the trainer added: “He’s a horse who doesn’t really want to be in front, he likes being up on the pace but he doesn’t want to be in front and pushing the pace. They just didn’t go fast enough really, he stayed on well, he did nothing wrong.

“Alan (Johns, jockey) was happy as Larry with him, the race just didn’t pan out as you’d hope to give him the best chance of running his race, so I’m hoping that will be different come Saturday.”

Christian Williams won the Eider last season with Win My Wings and this time runs Kitty’s Light, second behind the latter horse in the Scottish Grand National last season and second behind stablemate Cap Du Nord in the Coral Trophy at Kempton.

Cap Du Nord heads south to defend that title and Kitty’s Light will return to a four-mile trip under Jack Tudor at Newcastle after the presence the highly-rated of Frodon pushed him out of the weights at Kempton.

“He’s very well, he’s being stepped back in trip to four miles and he seems to be an out-and-out stayer,” Williams said.

“There are only certain four-mile races on nice ground for a horse of his rating, so the Eider Chase was the obvious choice for him.

Christian Williams' Cap Du Nord
Christian Williams’ Cap Du Nord (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s been running over three miles and I think a step up in trip will suit him, it’s great prize-money and it’d be great to win it again.

“You can’t question his stamina, he ran well over three miles at Kempton in the Coral Trophy last year and that’s great prize-money, but Frodon is stopping him from going there so we’ll go for the Eider instead.”

Ben Clarke’s proven stayer The Galloping Bear lines up under jockey Ben Jones, having falled in the Welsh National when last seen.

Happily the bay was unscathed after the incident and has been pleasing when schooling in preparation for the race.

Clarke said: “He’s been none the worse from his tumble at Chepstow. He’s done of plenty of schooling since, we’ve had him checked over and he seems to be absolutely fine.

The Galloping Bear
The Galloping Bear (Steven Paston/PA)

“Everything’s gone really smoothly for him, we think the track will suit him and we’re excited about running him. He schooled this week very nicely and worked well, so we’re hopeful of a good run.

“The trip is definitely no issue for us, there are a few in it that are open to improvement up in trip, but there’s no guarantee they are confirmed stayers. That’s got to be a positive, he’s on a mark that we know is workable for him and he’s pretty straightforward – we’re all happy this end and hoping he can run well.”

The Galloping Bear has relished heavy ground in the past, but Clarke does not expect good to soft will hinder him over an extended trip and under a weight of 11st 12lb.

“He hasn’t run on good to soft ground for a little while, if it was over three miles on that ground I might be a bit concerned that everything could happen a bit quick for him, but over four miles, I can’t see it being an issue.

“He’s got a lot of weight to carry and he’s done that in the past, he carried the same weight to victory in the Surrey National, but because he’s not the biggest horse, it might actually help if it’s not quite such a bog. I don’t foresee good to soft ground being such an issue over the trip.”

Harris plotting Adonis triumph for Scriptwriter

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Scriptwriter could cement his place as Britain’s leading JCB Triumph Hurdle hope in the Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton.

Milton Harris won the Grade Two contest with Knight Salute 12 months ago and is treading the same path to the Cheltenham Festival with his classy recruit from Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering Flat string.

A winner of his first two hurdling starts and also successful when having a spin on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in December, he was beaten less than a length by Joseph O’Brien’s Comfort Zone at Prestbury Park on Trials Day.

He lost little in defeat that day and Harris now hopes he can regain the winning thread to gather some momentum towards the Festival in this £80,000 contest.

Scriptwriter (left) jumping a final hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day
Scriptwriter (left) jumping a final hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day (David Davies/PA)

He said: “He’s in good form. It’s well publicised that Paddy (Brennan) and I both agree that we got tactics a bit wrong at Cheltenham last time, without wishing to take anything away from the winner.

“It’s going to be a difficult task with a penalty, but he seems in good form and is probably the leading British juvenile and I have no problem with the horse’s form and well-being heading into the race.

“The Adonis is a good race in its own right and we did consider going fresh to the Triumph, but this is an £80,000 good race and it needs supporting. Cheltenham isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything, even though it is clearly our main target, but he is a juvenile hurdler.

“This horse has a Flat rating of 104 and ran to 104 when he ran on the Flat not so long ago and you have to ask yourself could any of these run to 104 on the Flat?

“We’re very happy and have had a clean run (since Cheltenham) and it would be very good for Paddy and the owners. The horse is a very nice horse and we’ll be doing our best.”

Scriptwriter has another Joseph O’Brien horse to take on this time in the form of Nusret – who looked good at Punchestown in the autumn before finishing third in deep contests the last twice.

Paul Nicholls also looks to have a smart prospect for a race he has won three times in the last 10 years in the form of Rare Middleton.

A winner at Leopardstown for Andy Oliver in the autumn, he soon transferred to Ditcheat for 215,000 guineas and made a winning debut for the champion trainer at Taunton last month.

“A useful handicapper on the Flat in Ireland, he made a pleasing hurdles debut for us with a tidy victory at Taunton early in January,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“That wasn’t the strongest of maiden races but he has come on nicely at home and this has always been his target.

“I’m hopeful that Rare Middleton can now raise his game on good ground that will suit him at Kempton. This race will tell us whether he goes for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham or waits for Aintree.”

Alan King is another with a fine record in this event and relies on Spartan Army, while Nicky Henderson last won this in 2019 with Fusil Raffles and unleashes the former William Haggas-trained mare Pawapuri, who was rated 85 on the level and looks an interesting hurdling newcomer for the Seven Barrows handler.

A new name to the training ranks is Ben Brookhouse and he is looking to his first-ever winner Sarsons Risk to build on victory at Doncaster and put his name on the map.

He said: “He seems to have come out of Doncaster well and he is a likeable type and seems to want to do it.

“He only had three days off after Doncaster but it was like a piece of work to him in all fairness. We are just pressing on now and looking forward to the Adonis.

“I think he is very special and he has a big engine now that we have sorted his wind issue out. His jumping at Doncaster was as slick as you like, which is a big thing for juveniles.

“I think he definitely deserves his place on Saturday. There is the voice in your head telling you he will win this without too much fuss, potentially, but then you have the realistic voice in your head saying everyone is thinking this. I think he has got a very good chance but the opposition is strong.”

Gary Moore’s Perseus Way finished second to Scriptwriter at Cheltenham on his hurdling debut and has gone on to acquire a rating of 125 over timber thanks to a placed effort in a Chepstow Grade Two and a commanding victory in the Chatteris Fen.

Perseus Way comes back under Jamie Moore
Perseus Way comes back after winning at Huntingdon under Jamie Moore (PA)

That Huntingdon success was given a timely boost when the runner-up bolted up at the same track on Thursday, but Moore believes his charge needs to raise his game.

He said: “It will be different to Huntingdon, a bit tougher race.

“He’s wrong with a few horses in the race handicap wise, but I just felt he had to have a go. He can go there and get the same prize money as the Fred Winter and I think the track will suit him.

“He’s a horse we like a lot, but he’s got to up his game a bit on Saturday. Scriptwriter is a 104-rated Flat horse isn’t he, but he wasn’t far behind him at Cheltenham the first time so we’ll just have to have a go at it.”

Hansard reports for Dovecote duty at Kempton

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Gary Moore looks to have the trump card in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton as Hansard looks to maintain his unbeaten record over obstacles.

A winner of both outings over timber so far, he gave 7lb to Betfair Hurdle sixth Master Chewy when impressing at Plumpton at the turn of the year.

Freshened up for this Grade Two contest since, Moore hopes the Noel Fehily Racing-owned five-year-old – who is a 40-1 shot for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with race sponsor Sky Bet – can continue on his upward curve at a track that could play to his speedy strengths.

“He’s done nothing wrong so far and is a horse we like a lot,” said Moore.

“The track will suit him as he’s not slow. We would like the ground to have a bit more give in it, but you’ve got to take what you’re given at the moment.

“He’s a very nice horse and I would like to think he’ll keep going (upwards). This has always been the plan since Huntingdon when he won his first hurdle race and he will be going there fresh. Hopefully he can run a big race.”

His chief market rival appears to be Paul Nicholls’ Rubaud, who was somewhat disappointing when quietly fancied for the Betfair Hurdle, but has some smart novice form in the book from his prior efforts.

“He has taken to hurdles so well that I fancied him in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, but he ruined his chance by pulling like a train in the first half of the race,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“Harry (Cobden) didn’t give him a hard time once it was clear he was beaten. I’m putting on a hood to help Rubaud relax better and he should be much happier back in novice company in a smaller field of runners round a track where he ran well at Christmas.”

Jonjo O’Neill’s Huntingdon scorer Imperial Bede and Chris Gordon’s Kayf Legend both arrive on the back of victories and are worth their place in the field, while Olly Murphy is hoping good ground can see Ukantango back to his best having struggled in testing conditions when tackling the Tolworth.

He said: “We’re looking forward to running him back on better ground, he hated the ground at Sandown in the Tolworth – it was bottomless heavy and you either love it or hate it there and he absolutely hated it.

“He seems in very good form and doesn’t seem a million miles wrong at the ratings. His Cheltenham run reads very well and we’re looking forward to him running.”

Mullenbeg, here winning the Alan Swinbank Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race at Cheltenham, looks to book her ticket back to the Festival at Kempton on Saturday
Mullenbeg, here winning the Alan Swinbank Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race at Cheltenham, looks to book her ticket back to the Festival at Kempton on Saturday (David Davies/PA)

The field for the Grade Two event is completed by the Milton Harris-trained pair of Mullenbeg and Postmark – with the latter turning out quickly following success in a Newbury maiden last weekend.

“Mullenbeg has had a lovely break,” said Harris. “She knocked herself when she ran at Cheltenham when she finished sixth, which I probably ran her in too quickly (after her win at Ludlow).

“She’s never been as well as I’ve got her now, she’s in a great place. She gets a 7lb mares’ allowance which brings her in line with some of the geldings. If you asked what does she want, I would say a quick two miles on a sharp track and nice ground and that is what she has.

“She’s already been a success, she won a Listed bumper and three hurdle races and this will tell us if she should be going to the Mares’ Novice at the Cheltenham Festival.”

On Postmark, he added: “He’s rated 89 on the Flat. Unfortunately he wants nice ground and we’ve ran out of time a bit to get him three runs to get him qualified for the Boodles, if we go that route.

“This Saturday is the last weekend you can run before you get a mark for the Boodles. He will be doing his best and I can see him running into a place, which would give him a mark if we choose to go that route.

“He needs to run well to justify that thought, but Harry (Redknapp) is a new owner and the horse has already won on the Flat and won last week at Newbury, so he’s turned out to be a successful purchase.”

Datsalrightgino has the chance to avenge his narrow Newton Abbot defeat at the hands of Boothill in the Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase that is also on the card.

Jamie Snowden’s seven-year-old enjoyed the step up in trip when second to Stage Star on Festival Trials day and receives 5lb from Harry Fry’s Wayward Lad winner as they rematch over a longer distance.

“He’s a smashing horse who has progressed all season,” said Snowden.

“He did well to win over two miles but has improved for going up to two and a half as you saw the last day when he chased home Stage Star at Cheltenham – that was a good performance.

“Obviously he reopposes Boothill, who he took on at Newton Abbot earlier in the season and Boothill now has a 5lb penalty for winning the Grade Two over Christmas.

“It’s a competitive little race, but hopefully he goes there with a decent chance with good prize money on offer.”

Nicholls has an imperious record in this Grade Two contest winning it six times in the last 10 years.

He has sent out the victor in the past two seasons and looks to bring up the hat-trick with Solo, who won the Adonis on this day in 2020 and arrives on the back of a wind operation with some smart chasing form in the book.

“He has run really well on all three starts over fences this season and worked nicely at home on Friday morning,” said Nicholls.

Ladbrokes Christmas Festival – Desert Orchid Chase Day – Kempton Park
Solo ridden by jockey Bryony Frost competes in the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) during at Kempton in 2021 (Steven Paston/PA)

“The form of his second to Balco Coastal at this track on Boxing Day is strong, he was giving 8lb to the winner and Solo has since had a little op to cauterise his palate.

“Track, trip and ground are ideal for our horse, who won the Adonis Hurdle in eyecatching fashion on this card three years ago.

“We have a great record in the Pendil, having won it in six of the last 10 years and Solo has decent claims of adding his name to the roll of honour.”

Nicky Henderson’s Tweed Skirt and Dan Skelton’s Jay Jay Reilly are also engaged.