It’s a nice time of 12 months! I at all times get very excited in regards to the begin of the jumps season correct, as we start to wrap up the Flat racing and see momentum start to collect tempo for the Nationwide Hunt motion.
We’re solely simply on the backside of the mountain and raring to start that climb, so here is a couple of names to look out for at Chepstow on Saturday – reside on Sky Sports activities Racing.
My Noble Lord
1:35 Champion Equestrian Juvenile Hurdle
We kick-start day two of the Leap Season Opener at Chepstow with an attention-grabbing juvenile contest. Speedy Mission represents final 12 months’s successful proprietor, Mrs Kate Kenyon, after Balboa ran out a prepared winner 12 months in the past, with Seamus Mullins’ helpful hurdler really lining up within the second race on the cardboard. Kotgar is bred by the Aga Khan and makes his first begin for Evan Williams, whereas Alan King now switches Rakki from the Flat in the hunt for his first success.
Metropolis Of London has a pleasant pedigree and is said to a yard favorite in Nemean Lion, nonetheless, this seems to be all about My Noble Lord within the well-known JP McManus silks. The son of Noble Mission earned a score of 83 on the Flat for Micheal Bell, and I really feel he units the benchmark right here for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero crew, who’re bettering the standard of their inventory on a regular basis.
Liari
2:10 Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Observe 4-Y-O Hurdle
Within the second race on the cardboard, I am excited in regards to the return of Liari. I am an enormous fan of this horse and liked seeing him progress final season for Paul Nicholls. The Cracksman gelding is uncomplicated and will probably make all right here. Issues did not go to plan for him within the Boodles at Cheltenham, together with his leaping missing any actual fluency and Harry Cobden ultimately pulling him up, however I am trying ahead to seeing him again out on this spot.
He was meant to run at this assembly final 12 months earlier than being pulled out on account of the heavy floor, although he really went on to attain in comparable situations at Aintree and appears efficient on most surfaces. I do know Nicholls hasn’t had the strongest begin to the two-day assembly, however I am not involved about Liari on his return as he often goes nicely contemporary.
Cuthbert Dibble
2:45 Tom Malone Bloodstock Novices’ Chase
Sudden Celebration landed this Listed occasion final 12 months for Dan and Harry Skelton, so Boombawn could be the one to return to successful methods for a similar steady, however I am discovering it laborious to oppose Nigel Twiston-Davies runners in the mean time, as his yard are in tremendous type at current, with Sam Twiston-Davies driving loads of winners away from their runners too.
Cuthbert Dibble represents them right here, with the six-year-old having received on the observe on the finish of January after a break earlier than following up at Haydock the next month. He was extremely tried on his remaining two outings, together with his run within the Pertemps Closing on the Cheltenham Pageant significantly thrilling. Bodily, the son of Kayf Tara presents himself as a chaser, so I am excited to see what he has to supply tackling bigger obstacles for the primary time.
Into The Park
3:20 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle
The Silver Trophy seems to be as aggressive as ever, with a very open look to it. Nonetheless, Into The Park is a horse I’m very eager to see within the parade ring beforehand. The five-year-old is having his first race since carrying an enormous weight to complete fourth at Newbury again in March, the place he was making an attempt this journey (2m3f) for the primary time.
Earlier than that effort he produced two glorious performances to win on the identical observe and Taunton, each over 2m½f, however I nonetheless suppose he is sitting on a aggressive mark right here, particularly on his second try over this distance.
Holokea
5:10 Unibet Open NH Flat Race
Lastly, we shut the cardboard with a bumper, and whereas Paul Nicholls has a very good file within the race and is represented by the useful-looking Keel Strand – runner-up on his sole begin in an Irish point-to-point – I am eager to have an each-way play on Holokea for the red-hot crew of Peter and James Bowen.
Flying Fortune was a wonderful winner for the yard within the Grade 2 Persian Battle Novices’ Hurdle on Friday, so fingers crossed their type continues right here with their sport Worcester winner, who ought to have extra to come back on this sphere.
Watch Chepstow reside on Sky Sports activities Racing…
