We have a busy day in prospect so fingers-crossed Wincanton and Chepstow can go ahead as planned.
No Hubs No Hoobs is a lovely young horse. He’s had just the one run for us, in a Bumper at Ascot, and he was absolutely clueless that day, so now he needs to learn what it’s all about. Chepstow is a lovely track to educate a young horse at.
The saddle slipped on this one at Exeter last time out, so he ran well considering that. He was bred by his owners and we haven’t rushed him, so we’re still finding out more about him, I’d like to think he can be competitive once he’s got a handicap mark. Hopefully the person tacking him up here will get it right this time!
Honest Exchange ran well to finish third at Exeter on his first run for us, and was staying on well at Taunton on his most recent start. That was over three miles so he will get a trip in time, but 2m 5f here on what should be holding ground will suit him.
This looks the right race for him, and he’d have a chance, definitely.
Slate House has a couple of entries, Wincanton would be the first preference but if the meeting doesn’t go ahead and we have enough notice, he has the Kempton option.
As I say, we’d rather run at Wincanton, I think the race would suit him. He’s had his wind tweaked since his run at Cheltenham, and he is a Grade 1-winning novice chaser, so wherever he runs he should be competitive.
If Wincanton does go ahead we can ride him nice and handy, this is over 2m 4f and we know he stays well. Most of all we just want to see him go out and enjoy himself.
Ambion Hill is a big sort, a chaser in the making, who just needs things to click for him over hurdles, and we think they will.
He’s dropping down the weights to a workable mark so could be competitive here, but it really is all about the future for him. He’s still growing so we’ll get this season behind him and look forward to going chasing.
The Coral Welsh National is a race we target every season, and we’ve been fortunate to win it twice, with Native River and Elegant Escape. It would be extra special to win it this season, as it’s being run in honour of Kim, and in Christmas In April we hope we’ve got the right horse to give it a go.
Unlike our two previous winners, he gets in down the bottom of the weights, and he’s not been affected by the delay to the running of this race, he’s remained in good form at home.
He’s won a Devon and a Sussex National so we know he handles these marathon trips and testing conditions, and he ran a lovely prep to be second in Fontwell’s Southern National in November.
He does need to step up here, he’ll need to produce a career best, but he’s in off a lovely racing weight, and there’s nothing to say he can’t improve.
Molineaux loves it around Wincanton, he saves his best runs for here, and in a small field, Jonjo [O’Neill] can ride him positively, hopefully get the others at it, and give himself a great chance.
