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.

Moore eyeing easier assignment for Authorised Speed

/by

Gary Moore could lower the sights of Authorised Speed following his Tolworth Hurdle disappointment – with the Champion Bumper fifth now having to prove he is good enough to line-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The son of Authorized was sent off the 5-4 favourite for the Sandown Grade One on the back of two impressive victories over timber before Christmas.

However, he failed to land a blow in the hands of Jamie Moore as Paul Nicholls’ Tahmuras took home the glory, fading tamely before two out to leave a question mark over his Cheltenham Festival aspirations.

Authorised Speed ridden by jockey Jamie Moore almost falling to the ground but successfully staying on their feet in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park
Authorised Speed ridden by jockey Jamie Moore almost falling to the ground but successfully staying on their feet in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park (Steven Paston/PA)

The six-year-old was reported to have scoped dirty after the race and his trainer is now contemplating swimming in calmer waters for his next outing before making a decision on the gelding’s participation in the Prestbury Park opener.

“He had a bad scope after the race, but if I didn’t know that I would say he is fine,” said Moore.

“Obviously he hasn’t done a lot this week, but we have to put the race behind us and move on.

“I’m not too sure where he goes next, but I might just try to find a novice hurdle for a horse that’s not won more than two races. If I can find one of them, it might just be what I do.

“He will have an entry (for the Supreme) but he has to go and prove he’s good enough to go there.

“We did it last year and ran him in the (Champion) bumper, which he ran well in, but you don’t get a lot for finishing seventh do you, and you don’t want the horse having a hard race for nothing.”

Moore though, retains plenty of faith in Authorised Speed, and is certain his Sandown showing wasn’t a true reflection of his ability.

On the Tolworth run, he added: “It was 100 per cent not his true running, he’s a lot better than that. I’m not taking anything away from the winner, but that wasn’t his true running at all.”

Byrnes hoping weather relents in time to get Green Glory to Kempton

/by

Charles Byrnes has his fingers crossed Coral Lanzarote Hurdle favourite Green Glory will be able to line up at Kempton on Saturday despite encountering problems in his efforts to cross the Irish Sea.

The six-year-old heads the market at 9-2 with the sponsors for the ultra-competitive two-mile-five-furlong handicap on the back of opening his hurdles account at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

But his bid to quickly double his tally over timber has hit a stumbling block with the current inclement weather halting Byrnes’ plans to travel Green Glory on the ferry from Dublin.

He said: “It looks a nice race for him, but our biggest problem at the moment though is travelling.

“We haven’t been able to get on the ferry. We’re going to try again tonight, but I don’t think it’s looking great.

“We’ll try again first thing in the morning and if they don’t take livestock then we won’t be travelling. It’s as simple as that and the biggest problem at the moment. It (the weather) seems to be worse in Holyhead than it is in Dublin.

“We could come over tomorrow but it is cutting it very fine to get settled in and is not ideal. If we can get travelling tomorrow morning we’ll probably come over. If they don’t let us on the half eight though, we won’t be travelling any later than that.”

For now all Byrnes – who has his plane ticket booked to attend Kempton – can do is hope for an upturn in conditions which will allow his progressive hurdler to take his chance.

He continued: “It is what it is and we can’t change that. We’ve got the flight booked and all set to go, so fingers crossed we get travelling.”

Dubai Future bidding to book Sheema Classic ticket at Meydan

/by

Saeed bin Suroor fields the first two home from the Bahrain Trophy in Friday’s Group Two Al Rashidiya at Meydan, as Dubai Future faces Passion And Glory once more.

The pair dominated the valuable event at Sakhir in November, with Dubai Future and Danny Tudhope coming out on top by three-quarters of a length.

Tudhope maintains the partnership with the seven-year-old, who has a possible tilt at the Sheema Classic on World Cup night on his agenda.

“He hasn’t had a run for two months but he’s been back in full training a while now, he’s working well and I’m happy with him,” said Bin Suroor.

“The Bahrain Trophy was obviously a good result and this is the best race for him before World Cup night.

“We will see how he runs here before deciding where he ends up. He’s a tough horse, a fighter, and we’ll just have to see how he runs before the World Cup meeting.

“Passion And Glory has also been training well since Dubai and I expect him to run well as well.”

Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old Ottoman Fleet, an easy Listed winner at Newmarket when last seen, looks the one to beat.

Bin Suroor is also hopeful of good runs from Soft Whisper and White Moonlight in the Ipi Tombe Stakes.

Soft Whisper winning under Frankie Dettori at the Cambridgeshire meeting in 2021
Soft Whisper winning under Frankie Dettori at the Cambridgeshire meeting in 2021 (Mike Egerton/PA)

Soft Whisper has won four times at Listed level, while White Moonlight has yet to recapture the promise she showed at two, although Bin Suroor does sees it on a morning at home.

“Soft Whisper is working well and likes it in Dubai, I’m really happy with her, she worked really well last week. She’s in the right race over the right trip (seven furlongs), so we’ll see how she goes,” he said.

“White Moonlight had three years off but she still shows me something on a morning, the problem is she is unsound.

“Every time she got close to a run she’d get another problem. I’ve given her lots of time, but I know she still has class. She’s better than she showed last time. What I see on the morning is very good.

“We just thought we’d give her a chance out here in Dubai before deciding on her future.”

Appleby again looks the man to beat, this time with Wild Beauty, not seen since finishing fifth of six behind Above The Curve in the Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp.

Bushypark back in business with North Yorkshire Grand National win

/by

Phil Kirby was thrilled to see the once prolific Bushypark bounce back to his best to claim the Vickers.Bet North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.

The nine-year-old won six successive races over obstacles between November 2020 and December 2021, but has since endured a spell in the doldrums.

However, having been pulled up on four successive occasions, Bushypark hinted at a return to form when runner-up as a 50-1 shot over hurdles at Newcastle last weekend and he was the 2-1 favourite turned out just five days later for a race his trainer won two years ago with Little Bruce.

While the well-fancied Legends Ryde refused to line up, it was clear from flag-fall that Bushypark was thoroughly enjoying himself as he fenced fluently at the head of affairs under Tommy Dowson.

Eclair De Guye emerged as the biggest challenger, but Kirby’s charge was not for catching and passed the post with three and a half lengths in hands.

Kirby said: “He lost his way for no reason, although he never looked great to be fair. He looked a bit poor and dry in his coat early on last year.

“I was panicking a bit as he didn’t even get round in his first few races for new owners, but he’s come back to form.

“We ran him last weekend and the plan was just to get round really and get those ‘P’s’ off his name.

“During his run he won three races in nine days, so I wasn’t worried about turning him out quickly and on his day he’s a proper horse for these kind of races.”

He added: “He’s been a great horse for us. We built a new yard up the road and we called it Bushypark, just because he won all those races for us.

“The pressure is off now. We can enjoy him rather than panicking all the time!”

Jimmy Moffatt is keen to raise Captain Westie’s sights following a successful debut for his yard in the Watch Racing TV Now Novices’ Hurdle.

The seven-year-old was second in an Irish bumper for Shark Hanlon and runner-up in a point-to-point for Tom Malone and was a 2-1 shot on his return from 424 days off the track.

Captain Westie proceeded to make every yard of the running under Charlotte Jones, jumping well in front and keeping enough in the tank to see off 5-6 favourite Broomfield Present by a length.

Moffatt, matching his best ever tally of 18 winners from last season, said: “We’ve had him about six months and it’s taken all that time to get him fit as he was literally the size of a minivan when he came to us and is not much smaller now!

“He’s going to have a short hurdling career as he’s going to go chasing and I wouldn’t mind having a crack at a decent race – something like the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock which we won with Chief Dan George (in 2007).

“He’s not had any problems at all – he’s as clean as a whistle. I think he’s a nice horse, this wouldn’t be his track and he’ll improve a good bit.”

Roccowithlove in the Catterick winner's enclosure
Roccowithlove in the Catterick winner’s enclosure (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Atomic Angel (7-1) claimed the racingtv.com Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for trainer Susan Corbett and jockey Sam Coltherd, while the Joanne Foster-trained Roccowithlove gave a jumping exhibition on his way to winning the Millbry Hill Novices’ Handicap Chase in the hands of Emma Smith-Chaston.

Foster, who also saddled the third-placed Ballynagran, said: “I was quite surprised how well he went in that ground, but he’s been in really good form with himself.

“We bought him from Warren Greatrex for £3,500 and I only bought him to go point-to-pointing, but then we thought we’d keep running him (under rules) and we might come back here in two and a half weeks.”

Sue Smith’s Cerendipity (11-1) stayed on dourly to deny the hat-trick-seeking General Officer victory in the EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle, with Thomas Willmott the winning pilot.

William Easterby steered 9-2 shot Bollin Neil to victory for his father Tim in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.

A rare visit to Catterick for Harry Cobden paid dividends as he struck gold in the concluding Racing Again 25th January Handicap Hurdle aboard Milton Harris-trained 5-6 favourite El Muchacho.

He said: “I thought he was going to win easy enough and then the second horse picked up quite well when I got to him.

“He’s a nice horse, Milton’s done well with him and he’s obviously progressed.

“I don’t come here often. Mr (Paul) Nicholls doesn’t send many and I don’t think I’ve been here since lockdown, which must be nearly three years ago.”