It is interesting to see Venetia Williams send a couple of runners up to Hexham who have ground just on the soft side of good for today's jumps card. In the opening maiden hurdle she saddles French import Air De Rock and I suggest we take a close look to see if the market speaks in his favour. Without that information I just favour the filly Kelka (1.10) who ran well over C&D when third on her hurdles debut having shown she goes well fresh when winning a soft ground bumper on her debut at Catterick back in March.
Willie Boy (1.45) receives a 12lbs, taking into consideration jockey's allowances, from the penalised Ryedale Racer in the Novices' Hurdle over 2m 4f and this winning pointer won't have to be anything out of the ordinary to make a winning debut under rules. The 5-year-old is one of three winners from the p-t-p field in the line-up in what could be an informative little contest.
In the conditional jockeys' handicap chase Trouble In Paris (3.30) finished runner up in the corresponding race 12 months ago and is taken to go one better despite still to break his maiden tag in 27 previous starts! The selection obviously goes well fresh and there is plenty of pace in the race which should suit.
There is no question that the big race of the day is at Down Royal where Apple's Jade (1.5)) has her first start for Gordon Elliot having left Willie Mullins in the aftermath of the spat between owner Gigginstown Stud and raised training fees at the Mullins yard. The filly finished runner up in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham before easy wins at both Aintree and Punchestown and she is a leading Champion Hurdle contender despite the poor record of 5-year-olds in the race.
At Fontwell Tagrita (1.35) makes her chase debut for Paul Nicholls and this 2m 5f trip should be ideal; she is at her best on a right-handed track so this figure of eight course is less than ideal but she was better than today's opposition over timber and did win a point in her native Ireland.
David Cricket (3.55) looked in need of a trip when runner up at Warwick back in May and no coincidence that Alan King steps him up in trip a couple of furlongs for his seasonal reappearance. Ben Pauling saddled the winner at Warwick and with that in mind a market move for Markov would be noteworthy.
At Warwick I hope to see a different Blue Heron (2.00) to the one who was a bit ring-rusty at Market Rasen returning from a long lay-off last month. The selection was a near top-class hurdler, finished fourth in the Aintree Hurdle in 2015, and Harry Skelton wasn't hard on the gelding once he got tired at the Lincolnshire track.
Achimota fell on his last start at Haydock back in March but has run well fresh in the past, is a thorough stayer and does have a win next to his name on good ground. He must go close but in the staying handicap chase for conditional jockeys I just favour Brownville from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard with Ryan Hatch in the saddle. Hatch didn't have the best of days at Wetherby on Saturday but bounced back with a double at Hereford earlier in the week and gets the vote.
For all your sporting odds check out BetVictor.com.
