National Hunt fans are in clover this afternoon with action from Ludlow and Doncaster. AP McCoy heads to the latter with a tremendous book of rides and Devilment (2.55) his best chance of a winner for trainer John Ferguson in the 2m Juvenile Hurdle. The former Godolphin inmate was rated 94 this summer on the flat and has impressed on both starts over timber, chasing home Pain Au Chocolat on his debut in this sphere at Plumpton before making amends under the Champion Jockey last month at Wetherby. The selection boasts an entry in the Triumph Hurdle and is 50/1 with BetVictor for Cheltenham success on the Friday of the festival.
McCoy can double up aboard Burton Port (3.25) in a fascinating renewal of the Veterans’ Handicap Chase, bringing together recent Grimthorpe winner Ikorodu Road and Becher Chase scorer Oscar Time for the Waley-Cohens amongst others. Jonjo O’Neill’s 11-y-o looks to have that added touch of class however and is just 3lb higher in the weights from his narrow defeat in the Bet365 Gold Cup in last season’s grand finale at Sandown. He was well beaten in the race last term but arrives with three runs under his belt already and should be fit and raring to go with the Jonjo stable in much better form.
Milan Bound (3.55) was punted like a good thing earlier this month and despite McCoy and his fellow jockeys being caught napping by the front-running Bygones Sovereign he remains well-handicapped to go close for the pair of McCoy and Jonjo once again. The selection chased home subsequent G2 scorer Closing Ceremony in warm handicap hurdle at Haydock, narrowly beaten a head when producing a late rally under Richie McClernon. A 4lb rise seems very fair and he is a confident selection to get the better of David Pipe‘s hat-trick seeking Rathlin Rose.
Evan Williams’ Sublime Talent (3.45) ran into one the last time his mark had trickled down to 110 and with the handicapper relenting once more he has to go close in the handicap chase over the minimum trip. Talented conditional Conor Ring takes off a useful 5lb and the former course and distance winner can give both weight and a beating to his eight rivals an claim an 8th career success.
There’s terrific National Hunt across the Irish Sea with Punchestown staging a seven-race card and Colin Bowe’s Little King Robin (3.10) the star attraction in the feature Mares’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. The selection has demonstrated tremendous tenacity to rack up a four-timer in the autumn, before a brace of third-place finishes in the G1 Morgiana and Hattons Grace Hurdles respectively..
Jett (5.10) is a half-brother to Champion Hurdler Jezki and can carry on his family’s fine track record in the closing bumper. He was too keen when making his debut last month at Leopardstown, chasing home a well-backed horse for Willie Mullins, however he looks a sure-fire winner in waiting and can make it second time lucky under 3lb conditional Mark Fahey.
There’s all-weather action from Lingfield and Kempton with the eye drawn to the twilight meeting at the latter and Godolphin’s Festive Fare (7.40) fancied to follow-up his last time out success in the feature mile handicap. Charlie Appleby’s well-bred Teofilo colt got the better of stablemate Pathway to Honour on his debut last month at Lingfield and the form of that race looks strong with the 2nd and 3rd both winning maidens at the track comfortably thereafter. An opening mark of 84 looks lenient and he looks the ideal type o progress further under retained jockey William Buick.
At Lingfield, Sir Mark Prescott’s Coursing (4.05) a confident selection to complete the hat-trick in the 6f handicap under regular pilot Luke Morris. The well-bred daughter of Kylacchy has been a revelation since sent handicapping, winning sprint handicaps at Wolverhampton and Lingfield respectively with the minimum of fuss. She has taken an 18lb hike at the weights for those efforts but she is open to further progression and can make It three on the spin from the plumb draw in stall one.
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