Stiff task for Halo on his return
I have a whopping seven rides at Wincanton today, but have to settle for just two at Limerick tomorrow.
Anyway, the highlight promises to be partnering Celestial Halo in the Grade 2 handicap hurdle at Wincanton.
He did just about everything right last season and showed what a classy horse he is when failing narrowly to Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He disappointed after Cheltenham, when going to Aintree, but was well over the top by then and that effort is best ignored.
He has to carry top weight now and, have no doubt, faces a stiff task, especially attempting to give Whiteoak 15lbs.
This track might be a bit tight for him, but he comes here because it’s a limited handicap. If waiting for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham, he would have to concede even more weight.
I hope we can win, but this contest is all about preparation for his first real early-season target, the Boylesports’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.
I have a very good chance of getting away to the perfect start on Pepe Simo in the opening novices’ hurdle.
He was ninth to Dunguib at Cheltenham and then won nicely first time up over hurdles on this track last month.
He’s not straightforward, but isn’t a bad little horse all the same and shouldn’t be far away.
I’ll be pleasantly surprised should Now Listen To Me prove capable of winning a handicap chase. It’s an ordinary race, but he’s an ordinary horse.
Pepite De Soleil is much more of a live possibility in the following mares handicap hurdle, having performed well when third at Stratford last time. She will like the track and is well fancied.
Gullible Gordon is one of only four horses in the novice chase, arriving on the back of a 23 lengths success at Chepstow.
That race didn’t take a whole lot of winning, however, and this represents a far higher grade. Kangaroo Court, for instance, would be a better hurdler than Gullible Gordon.
What my lad has going for him is that he is a brilliant jumper, but whether it will be enough to gulf the gap in class remains to be seen.
A couple of weeks back, I told you to make a note of The Tother One and now he gets a chance to strut his stuff in a handicap chase.
He’s only run two races over fences and, to my mind, was never right last season. But the eight-year-old looks much brighter and better in himself now and seems to have improved a lot at home.
I know he has to carry 11-9, but there’s a strong possibility The Tother One may be well handicapped.
I end on Valentine Vic in the bumper and point-to-point followers in the south will know him for winning two bumpers for Liam Burke at Knockanard and Dromahane.
Paul Nicholls tells me he’s tough and gallops all day, but lacks a gear. Obviously, jumping will be the name of the game for him, so we’ll see now if he’s able to win a bumper, on the way to his true vocation.
I head to Limerick tomorrow, basically to ride Morning Supreme for Willie Mullins in a maiden hurdle.
She was due to go to Cork last Sunday, but that meeting was cancelled, of course. She’s a class mare, but a real tearaway.
After Cadspeed runs for Willie at Down Royal today, we will have a better idea as to how forward his horses are.
Cadspeed’s work at home has been good and if he wins then that would certainly increase my confidence in Morning Supreme’s prospects.
I won on Scholars Mate at Punchestown and think he has a real shot at defying an 8lbs rise in the weights in a handicap hurdle at Down Royal.
And a word on the two big races in the north. I thought The Listener looked superb when I saw him yesterday morning, primed for a major effort in the Champion Chase. Herecomesthetruth will put it up to Forpadydeplasterer in the Grade 2 chase.
