The best of this afternoon’s action comes from Ludlow where Phillip Hobbs’ Scoop the Pot (1.50) can land the opener under AP McCoy. The 19-time Champion Jockey has enjoyed a stellar 2015 thus far, even more so since announcing his impending retirement, with 46 winners since the New Year and the exciting gelding is taken to add to that tally further. The selection was tenderly treated by McCoy on his debut under rules last month at Wincanton when staying on strongly behind the 133-rated Otago Trail and with the form of that race working out well, is a confident selection under The Champ.
Trickaway (2.20) can give the Hobbs’ stable an opening card double in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over two and a half miles. The selection has thrived since being sent over fences, winning two of his five completed starts under regular partner Richard Johnson. He looked unsuited by the heavy ground the last time out and despite a 20lb rise for winning at Exeter and Wincanton, should be much better suited, and can return to winning ways, on the forecast good-to-soft ground.
Providing the Hobbs’ yard taste early success it could lead to Tony Star going off very short for the feature 3m Handicap Chase, and as such What a Good Night (3.20) gets the nod for the in-form pair of Dan and Harry Skelton. The selection creeps in at the foot of the weights however remains potentially well-treated after comfortable wins at Uttoxeter and Wetherby earlier this term. The form of the latter has already been franked and, despite the handicapper having his say, he is clearly going the right way and can seal a third success of the season.
There’s twilight action on the all-weather from Chelmsford Park with First Dream (6.40) a fascinating contender, albeit drawn in the car park, for Roger Varian and Frederick Tylicki. The well-bred son of Oasis Dream was well-backed on his handicap debut at Southwell, running well but never looking to take to the surface. He remains open to significant improvement from a revised mark of 59 and can shed the maiden tag at the belated fifth time of asking in first-time cheek-pieces.
Sam Twiston-Davies is Taunton-bound this afternoon with three rides and Amanto (3.30) the pick of the trio in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle for boss Paul Nicholls. The selection finished behind the pair of subsequent winners Kingfisher Creek and Aso in a Novices’ Hurdle over course and distance in December and, despite disappointing on his handicap debut earlier this month, can make amends in first-time blinkers.
There’s an excellent card across the Irish sea at Thurles where Robbie Hennessy‘s stable star Rubi Light (2.45) bids to get his head in front for the first time in over three years in the feature chase over two and a quarter miles. The now 10-y-o chased home the ill-fated Gold Cup winner Synchronised in the G1 Lexus Chase in his pomp however has lost his way thereafter. Despite this, he showed his old sparkle chasing home Willie Mullins’ highly-touted Turban last time out at Clonmel and can give 3lb and a beating to the pair of Arnaud and Irish Thistle.
The feature G2 Novices’ Hurdle can go the way of Milsean (3.15), one of two in the line-up for Champion Trainer Willie Mullins with Bryan Cooper riding for his retainer Gigginstown House Stud and Ruby Walsh on stablemate Sambremont. The selection arrived with a lofty reputation after costing a small fortune for new connections after winning a point-to-point in Ireland and was tremendously successful in that sphere, winning two of three starts with Gordon Elliot’s No More Heroes (8/1 with BetVictor for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival) the sole horse to better him. He won a Maiden Hurdle at Navan comfortably and only narrowly failed to maintain his 100% record over timber when tiring after attempting to make all in a terrible headwind at the track earlier this month. He should be able to bounce back to winning ways here, en-route to a career over fences thereafter.
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