Ginge expected to make a Splash on chasing debut at Perth

Splash Of Ginge makes his eagerly awaited debut over fences at Perth today and can make his class tell to get the better of main market rival Ainsi Fideles in Timothy Hardie Jewellers Novices’ Chase (3.55).

The six-year-old was bought for just £20,000 by Liverpudlian John Nield with the long term dream of winning the Grand National, and succeeded all expectations in his first season over hurdles.

Splash Of Ginge showed tremendous battling qualities to land the valuable Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, one of the most competitive handicaps in the calendar, and ended the campaign with a fine second to Lac Fontana in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Those efforts earned the son of Oscar an official hurdle rating of 146, 14lb higher than that of Ainsi Fideles.

It suggests that Splash Of Ginge is going to be very tough to beat if fit enough to do himself justice after 173 days on the sidelines, and he certainly has the size and scope to make a cracking chaser.

Giving 2lb to the race-fit Ainsi Fideles will not be easy, but Splash Of Ginge looks a very exciting prospect and I expect him to come through this test with flying colours.

Ainsi Fideles is trained by David Pipe and is unbeaten in four starts over fences.

The four-year-old is a solid jumper who hardly had to break sweat to beat Lamd Or Cod by 25 lengths last time out at Newton Abbot, and also has a course and distance win to his name.

The son of Dream Well also has the advantage of being race-fit, and is sure to give Splash Of Ginge plenty to think about.

However, I can’t see Splash Of Ginge found wanting through lack of fitness and he can take Ainsi Fideles scalp before going on to far better things.