Nobody Tells Me the answer at Taunton
One of David Pipe’s strong novice team, Nobody Tells Me already boasts a fine record over smaller obstacles having finished out of the frame just once in five starts.
The six-year-old struck twice as a novice last term but the switch to full company seemed to prove a step too far for a horse connections have always considered a chasing type.
Nobody Tells Me was not disgraced when behind the top-class Star De Mohaison on his seasonal bow at Cheltenham but was found out for speed when only third over two and a half miles at Fontwell last December.
Pipe steps him up to three miles here though and Nobody Tells Me is fancied to get off the mark at the first time of asking.
Party Boss proved a big disappointment last season but there are signs his long losing streak may be coming to an end.
Clive Brittain’s Silver Patriarch entire looked a really smart buy back at the end of 2004 and the start of 2005.
Well beaten on turf at Kempton on his debut, he took an immediate liking to the all-weather – finishing a good third over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton before following up with a win over the same trip at Southwell.
Five more victories were to follow in quick succession at Wolverhampton and Lingfield over trips ranging from seven to nine furlongs before he found himself out of his depth in the 2000 Guineas.
Sadly, that run signalled a change of fortunes and he went the rest of the season and the whole of last year without another win.
There have been signs he might be returning to form now though, finishing second to Red Spell at Lingfield last month before filling third place behind Gentleman’s Deal in a Kempton Listed race last Sunday.
He takes a drop in class for the Pontin’s Holiday Handicap at Southwell and, off a mark 6lb lower than his last winning one, should be able to resume winning ways.
Sir Mark Prescott is renowned for the patience he shows with his charges and his timely attitude can pay off today with Red Petal.
She has shown very little speed at the finish so the switch to Southwell’s slower Fibresand surface and the move up to a mile and three furlongs should put the pontins.com Handicap within Red Petal’s reach.
