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Stattler leads latest Mullins challenge on Tramore feature

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Willie Mullins is bidding for a seventh win in eight years in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore by fielding three of the five runners in the Grade Three race.

Hot on the heels of dominating Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, the champion trainer will be hoping Stattler can emerge as a Gold Cup prospect.

Mullins used Tramore as a stepping stone to Gold Cup glory for Al Boum Photo, who won this race four years in a row, but his retirement means there will be a new name on the roll of honour.

Winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March, Stattler faces stablemates El Barra and Cilaos Emery and perhaps more pertinently Henry de Bromhead’s 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.

“Stattler, Cilaos Emery and El Barra, the three of them will go down there,” said Mullins.

“Stattler was three from three last year and I just thought I’d go down there for softer ground and we’re going to get that down there.

“He’s in great form, but he’s up against it with Henry’s horse. I just thought it was a great place to be starting his season.

“I think he has (improved again). He’ll probably want a further trip, but two miles and five (furlongs) around there in heavy ground, the type of horses that are going to be down there, stamina is going to come into play and that’s his forte.

“It’s going to be a tough task for the other two. Cilaos Emery just might not handle that ground and El Barra has the benefit of a few runs but possibly the conditions of the race won’t suit him.”

Pat Griffin’s Roi Mage completes the field.

Nicholls relies on Hermes Allen for Challow hat-trick

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Paul Nicholls is poised to unleash Hermes Allen on Newbury as he attempts to win the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle for the third year in a row.

The champion trainer has targeted the race with some of his stable’s finest talent over the years, with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman landing the spoils in 2006 and recent King George VI Chase victor Bravemansgame scoring two years ago.

Stage Star made it back-to-back victories for the Ditcheat handler 12 months ago and now he looks for his fifth win overall in the Grade One contest with the unbeaten Hermes Allen.

The five-year-old, who cost £350,000 following a victory between the flags at Kirkistown, bolted up by 27 lengths on his debut at Stratford and added to his tally in emphatic style at Cheltenham in November, making all for a nine-length victory in a competitive-looking Grade Two contest.

“He looks to have a decent chance of completing the hat-trick for the yard in this Grade One race following the success of Bravemansgame in 2020 and Stage Star last year. Like them, Hermes Allen is on an upward curve having won both his starts for us from the front,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“He surprised me a bit by winning easily on his debut at Stratford as he hadn’t shown much at home but he has sharpened up no end since then, was impressive in a stronger race at Cheltenham and has improved a fair bit since.

“Hermes Allen schooled on Thursday morning and is in great shape. While this is the slowest ground he has raced on this season, it’s encouraging that he handled soft going in his point-to-points.”

Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin looks the pick of two Irish raiders in the 14-strong field. The form of his hurdling debut got a boost at Naas recently and he followed up that opening third with a taking display to get off the mark over obstacles at Fairyhouse. Kansas City Star was third on that occasion and also crosses the Irish Sea for Gordon Elliott.

Dan Skelton saddled West Balboa to finish second in the race 12 months ago and attempts to go one better for the same connections with Vicki Vale, who was a ready 17-length winner on her rules debut at Hereford.

“She’s definitely got a chance and she won very easily for us first time,” said Skelton.

“I’ve always had it in mind to step her up in grade and obviously this is a massive step up. But we were second in the race with West Balboa for the same owners last year and we thought why not have a go.

“She gets 7lb from the boys and is in very good form and we’ll go there optimistic of a very good run. I’m not saying she’ll win, but she will run really well. It’s a very, very tough race, but she’s in great form.”

David Pipe’s Thomas Mor was an emphatic 57-length scorer at Wincanton when last sighted.

“It looks a very hot race, but he has done nothing wrong so far,” said the Pond House handler.

“It is a step up in grade, but he deserves to take his chance and we’ll find out a lot more about him.

“His races so far have probably not been the strongest, but he deserves to have a go at it and he wouldn’t want the ground too soft, so it should be OK for him at Newbury.”

Fergal O’Brien won this with Poetic Rhythm in 2017 and looks to follow the same path with Persian War winner Accidental Rebel, while the Ravenswell Farm handler is also represented by the unbeaten Crambo and hat-trick-seeking Marble Sands.

Another handler who is well represented is Jamie Snowden, who saddles the four-timer seeking You Wear It Well and £185,000 Irish recruit Passing Well, who made a bright start to life in the UK when winning at Uttoxeter.

“You Wear It Well has done very little wrong in her career really,” said Snowden.

“She finished second in a bumper, won a bumper and has then won two hurdles. She was going to go to the Listed mares’ race at Haydock that was called off a few weeks ago, but this looks the obvious alternative.

Trainer Jamie Snowden saddles two in the Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle
Trainer Jamie Snowden saddles two in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It is a very competitive race and she has got to step forward once again, but she gets a 7lb allowance for her sex and she’s very unexposed. We’ll find out how good she is here.”

He continued: “Passing Well finished second at the Punchestown Festival in a bumper in the spring before coming over to us in the summer and won very nicely first time out at Uttoxeter.

“He’s definitely going to want a trip and he’s a lovely straightforward individual who jumps well and gallops well. He goes there with a chance but it’s a highly competitive race.”

Idalko Bihou (Nigel Twiston-Davies), Kilbeg King (Anthony Honeyball) and Moka De Vassey (Jane Williams) complete the line-up.

Nicholls hoping Truckers Lodge can give Freddie Gingell poignant Welsh National winner

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There would be no more popular winner of the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday than Truckers Lodge.

Third in the prestigious marathon chase 12 months ago, the Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old will be ridden by Freddie Gingell in a race that is run in memory of his late mother, Kim Gingell.

“This race has always been the plan, and the more rain before the race the better it will suit him,” Nicholls told Sky Sports Racing.

Truckers Lodge ran off a mark of 150 last year and is rated 141 on this occasion.

Freddie Gingell, pictured at Kempton Park
Freddie Gingell, pictured at Kempton Park (John Walton/PA)

Nicholls added: “Freddie is taking 7lb off that which will be handy, the race is named after his mother and what a story that would be if he could run well for him.”

Truckers Lodge is not the only horse that would be a poignant victor, as Kim Gingell’s brother Joe Tizzard saddles The Big Breakaway.

The Chepstow feature has twice gone to the Tizzard family from the last six runnings, courtesy of Native River in 2016 and Elegant Escape two years later.

Third to Monkfish in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, The Big Breakaway has not had that much racing since but ran a fine race on his reappearance to be second at Haydock in November.

Native River was a stable star for Colin Tizzard
Native River was a stable star for Colin Tizzard (Simon Cooper/PA)

Tizzard, who now holds the licence at Venn Farm after taking over from his father, Colin, said: “He seems in beautiful form at home and I’m really pleased with him. This has been the target for him and he seemed to build in confidence throughout the race at Haydock the other day and was unlucky not to win.

“The bit of rain we’ve had will mean it is lovely ground for him and I think the tempo of the race will suit him.

“We struggled with sore shins with him last year and this year he has got over that and he’s always been a horse we have held in high regard, so hopefully he will now pay us back for our patience.”

Welsh-trained contenders have taken the last three renewals and a leading chance for the home team this year is The Galloping Bear, who is trained by Ben Clarke.

He has the look of an ideal type for this race and enjoyed a recent spin over hurdles at Carlisle, which was a first outing for 281 days.

He will once again be ridden by Ben Jones, who said: “He went up to Carlisle for a little prep run just to clear the old cobwebs away. We were very happy with his run as he’s not a hurdler at all.

Ben Jones riding The Galloping Bear
Ben Jones riding The Galloping Bear (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s a proper workmanlike ride, you have to ask for every little bit out of him. Even when he grinds it out and wins nicely in the end, he’s always got a little bit left under the bonnet.

“The more you ask the more he keeps giving and that’s why we don’t mind the weights going up. It’s not that we want to carry more weight, it’s that we want the other horses to carry more weight to make it a proper staying test.

“He’s carried top-weight around Lingfield on heavy ground, he just bounced out in front, galloped all the way and made it look easy.”

Ask Me Early is another having a second run after a lengthy break and there was plenty of encouragement to be taken from his third at Bangor.

“We were delighted with his comeback run at Bangor and obviously the form has worked out well, with the winner (Le Milos) doing particularly well at Newbury (winning the Coral Gold Cup),” said trainer Harry Fry.

Ask Me Early is a
Ask Me Early is a “relentless” galloper (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s come out of that in good form and come forward for it as we’d hope and expect.

“We’ve made no secret of the fact we’ve been targeting this race. We didn’t get to run in it last year, but we’re on course to go there this year.

“From the first day he came into the yard we wondered whether we had a racehorse or a hunter on our hands as he only has one gear! Thankfully that gear lasts a very long time – he just seems to be relentless.

“He’s got a good record at the track and the more rain the better for him. It’s a hugely competitive race, but we’re going there with high hopes that he can be competitive.”

Venetia Williams’ Quick Wave is also a major fancy, and is a proven stayer who won the three-mile-five-furlong London National at Sandown when last seen.

Peter Fahey’s The Big Dog carries a live chance for the Irish but must shoulder top-weight as he looks to continue the winning streak that has seen him land the Munster National and the Troytown Chase this season.

The Big Breakaway seeking more Welsh National glory for Tizzards

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The Big Breakaway brings a touch of class to the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday.

He also brings high hopes of another winner in the prestigious marathon for the Tizzard family, twice successful from the last six runnings, courtesy of Native River in 2016 and Elegant Escape two years later.

Third to Monkfish in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, he has not had that much racing since but ran a fine race on his reappearance to be second at Haydock in November.

Native River was a stable star for Colin Tizzard
Native River was a stable star for Colin Tizzard (Simon Cooper/PA)

Joe Tizzard, who now holds the licence at Venn Farm after taking over from his father, Colin, said: “He seems in beautiful form at home and I’m really pleased with him. This has been the target for him and he seemed to build in confidence throughout the race at Haydock the other day and was unlucky not to win.

“The bit of rain we’ve had will mean it is lovely ground for him and I think the tempo of the race will suit him.

“We struggled with sore shins with him last year and this year he has got over that and he’s always been a horse we have held in high regard, so hopefully he will now pay us back for our patience.”

Welsh-trained contenders have taken the last three renewals and a leading chance for the home team this year is The Galloping Bear, who is trained by Ben Clarke.

He has the look of an ideal type for this race and enjoyed a recent spin over hurdles at Carlisle, which was a first outing for 281 days.

He will once again be ridden by Ben Jones, who said: “He went up to Carlisle for a little prep run just to clear the old cobwebs away. We were very happy with his run as he’s not a hurdler at all.

Ben Jones riding The Galloping Bear
Ben Jones riding The Galloping Bear (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s a proper workmanlike ride, you have to ask for every little bit out of him. Even when he grinds it out and wins nicely in the end, he’s always got a little bit left under the bonnet.

“The more you ask the more he keeps giving and that’s why we don’t mind the weights going up. It’s not that we want to carry more weight, it’s that we want the other horses to carry more weight to make it a proper staying test.

“He’s carried top-weight around Lingfield on heavy ground, he just bounced out in front, galloped all the way and made it look easy.”

Ask Me Early is another having a second run after a lengthy break and there was plenty of encouragement to be taken from his third at Bangor.

“We were delighted with his comeback run at Bangor and obviously the form has worked out well, with the winner (Le Milos) doing particularly well at Newbury (winning the Coral Gold Cup),” trainer Harry Fry told Sky Sports Racing.

Ask Me Early is a
Ask Me Early is a “relentless” galloper (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s come out of that in good form and come forward for it as we’d hope and expect.

“We’ve made no secret of the fact we’ve been targeting this race. We didn’t get to run in it last year, but we’re on course to go there this year.

“From the first day he came into the yard we wondered whether we had a racehorse or a hunter on our hands as he only has one gear! Thankfully that gear lasts a very long time – he just seems to be relentless.

“He’s got a good record at the track and the more rain the better for him. It’s a hugely competitive race, but we’re going there with high hopes that he can be competitive.”

Venetia Williams’ Quick Wave is also a major fancy, and is a proven stayer who won the three-mile-five-furlong London National at Sandown when last seen.

Peter Fahey’s The Big Dog carries a live chance for the Irish but must shoulder top-weight as he looks to continue the winning streak that has seen him land the Munster National and the Troytown Chase this season.