A disappointing field of just three go to post for the Gd 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury where Barters Hill (2.00) is expected to maintain his unbeaten record under regular partner David bass. Ben Pauling‘s stable star made an excellent debut over timber when beating Dan Skelton’s subsequent Cheltenham winner North Hill Harvey in emphatic fashion last month at Huntingdon when staying on strongly despite hitting a flat spot turning for home. The selection is currently 16/1 and 8/1 for the Neptune and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival but staying looks to be his game and the latter gets the nod as his most likely destination at the festival in the spring. The opposing pair of Politologue and Label Des Obeaux are respected but both 4-y-o’s should struggle against the son of Kalinisi with Alan King’s gelding the more likely to make a race of it under Wayne Hutchinson.
Mountain Tunes is a fascinating runner for the Jonjo O’Neill yard in the 2m 6f Novices’ Handicap Chase under Joshua Moore and should strip fitter for a recent return at Exeter. He will be remembered for giving AP McCoy his 4000th winner last season at Uttoxeter and with just three starts under rules remains unexposed and open to plenty of further improvement. He is respected near the head of the weights but is overlooked in favour of Lucy Wadham’s Road to Freedom (12.50) under Leighton Aspell. The selection was a faller last time out at Leicester with the race seemingly at his mercy and from an unrevised mark he must go close.
Stiletto isn’t sure to be suited by the drop back in trip and, with the Paul Nicholls‘ stable far from flying over the festive period, preference lies instead with Violet Dancer (2.35) for Gary and Joshua Moore. The selection has thrived since making his chase debut earlier in the campaign winning a pair of novices’ chases’ at Plumpton at Towcester, but put his best foot forward in defeat when chasing home Ditcheat’s subsequent G2 winner Le Mercurey over two and a half miles. The 5-y-o continues to progress with every run over the larger obstacles and can give weight and a beating to his four rivals to score for the third time over fences.
Present Flight (12.40) was pulled-up on his most recent start but previously sparkled on his seasonal reappearance at Kelso and can get back to winning ways on a wonderful card at the track under Dominic Fox. The selection disappointed last time out at Doncaster but jumped beautifully when scoring on his previous start at Musselburgh and although raised 19lb by the handicapper for those two successes he should remain competitive for local trainer Lucinda Russell.
Don Poli, currently 5/1 with BetVictor for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, won last year’s Leopardstown feature before following-up in the RSA Chase at the Festival and No More Heroes (2.30) can do likewise for connections under regular partner Bryan Cooper. Gordon Elliot’s 6-y-o has been likened to stablemate Don Cossack and jumped magnificently en-route to success in the Drinmore last month at Fairyhouse. The selection should relish the step up to three miles and is respected at the head of the market as BetVictor’s 4/1 favourite to follow in the hooveprints of Don Poli and land the RSA Chase at the festival in the spring.
Willie Mullins sends a handful of runners to Limerick and with Ruby Walsh and Paul Townend at Leopardstown it means Danny Mullins gets the leg-up aboard Uranna (1.30) making her debut over the larger obstacles in the Mares’ Beginners’ Chase over two and a half miles. The selection impressed last term over timber winning in listed company at Sandown before finishing fourth in G1 company at the Punchestown Festival and looks to have been found the ideal race to make the perfect start over fences.
The pair team-up with Up for Review in the feature 3m Novices’ Hurdle but Jetstream Jack (2.45) can cause something of an upset under Jamie Codd. The selection joined the Gordon Elliott yard after winning a point-to-point and followed-up by making a winning debut in a warm Fairyhouse bumper under Nina Carberry. The 5-y-o has improved on all three starts over timber but should prove even better over a trip.
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