At Cheltenham we have one runner, where the going is currently soft, while closer to home at Catterick, where we run six, it is currently soft, heavy in places.
Walk My Way is first up at 12.45.pm, in the novice hurdle over two miles and three furlongs, where she will have the assistance of Emma Smith-Chaston in the saddle. Walk My Way has already shown ability in seven Irish points, and the chances are her future will eventually lie over fences. In the meantime she continues her education here, on her second start for the yard.
Belle Nu Bann backed up a promising return at Sedgefield in November, when running out a three quarter lengths winner at Newcastle 18 days ago. The handicapper has raised her 3lb for that success, which seems fair. She goes to post for the 1.20.pm, in the 0-105 handicap hurdle, over the extended one mile and seven furlongs, with Emma Smith-Chaston retaining the ride.
Not What It Seems returned after 10 months, from a near career ending injury at Newcastle 18 days ago, to finish third over hurdles, when keeping on pleasingly over two miles and one furlong.With that run under his belt, he now steps up to three miles and one furlong for the first time over fences, where he faces three rivals at 1.55.pm, with Emma Smith-Chaston, who has won on him three times previously taking the ride.
Justus is a smart flat performer, who has already won two races, and has been rated as high as 86 when trained elsewhere. He made his hurdles debut for us at Wetherby 44 days ago, when finishing down the field in a much deeper race than this. He will have learnt from that initial experience, and we should see more of the real Justus here. He goes to post for the extended one mile and seven furlongs novices hurdle at 2.30.pm, with Emma Smith-Chaston on board for the first time.
Dark Duomo will make his second start over fences at 3.05.pm, in the 0-100 handicap chase, over three miles and one furlong, with Emma Smith-Chaston, who was also on board for his other two starts for us, keeping the ride. On his hurdles form when trained elsewhere he proved that he stays the trip, and acts on heavy ground, so from his current mark of 79, he should be competitive.
Howzat Hiris will also have conditions to suit. She made a pleasing return at Market Rasen in November, and then at the same venue 25 days ago, she ran at least as well as she has ever done, when building on that return, by filling the runners up spot. Howzat Hiris is building up a consistent profile, and may well go one better when contesting the 0-100 handicap hurdle, over three miles and one furlong at 3.39.pm, with Emma Smith-Chaston retaining the ride.
We also have one runner down at the home of jumps racing, Cheltenham, when the unraced four year old gelding Kids Say Lastgojoe will make his racecourse debut in the Listed junior bumper at 3.50.pm, with Billy Garritty taking the ride. Kids Say Lastgojoe is a French bred, and is the second produce of his unraced Dam to see the racecourse. His sire is the high class French sire Balko, who has thrown dozens of top quality National Hunt performers since 2010.
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Good luck to the connections, Mr&Mrs Lees, D Pollitt, Driving Down Ltd, Ms D Morley, S Dobson & Partner, Ryder And Alex Sugden, Sticky Wicket Racing, and Joe Buzzeo.
Not What It Seems.
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