Brendan Powell: ‘I’d say he goes there with a really solid chance’

Brendan Powell: “I’d say he goes there with a really solid chance.”

12:40 Warwick – Klitschko

This is my first time riding Klitschko, but I seem to remember he had quite a big reputation after winning his bumper in impressive style a few years ago, so I’m looking forward to getting on him.

He ran well enough when third on his handicap debut at Lingfield back in November, and that was his first run since February, so hopefully he should be able to step forward from that. The handicapper has dropped him 2lb for that run as well, so although it looks a competitive little race, I’d say he goes there with a really solid chance off a mark of 118.

1:15 Warwick – Diamond Ri

Diamond Ri is a horse we’ve always thought plenty of, and he won his bumper at Warwick back in the spring very easily. He finished second to a nice horse of Paul Nicholls’ at Exeter on his first run over hurdles last time, but his jumping just let him down that day. He’s done plenty of schooling at home since, and he’s been much better, so hopefully he can translate that to the track this weekend.

He’s a big imposing horse, and I think he has plenty of ability, so providing he jumps better than at Exeter, then he’d have to go there tomorrow with a big chance.

1:49 Warwick – The Big Breakaway

The Big Breakaway has his first run over hurdles for a few years, and hopefully it will help him regain his confidence, as he’s really struggled over fences of late. He was never travelling in the Welsh National last time, which was very frustrating given how well he’d ran in the race the year before.