StableTalk: “He’s had this as his aim since Taunton and there’s a lot in his favour”

There are just the five runners but this is a good race and Duke Des Champs sets a decent standard. Whilst the race has cut up it’s still a decent race as they are all 135-plus horses. I think the track will suit, the trip suits him and he goes in the ground. He is totally unexposed for us still so I give him a chance, I really do. If Duke Des Champs turns up in the form he’s shown, he’ll be tough to beat. As far as all the others go? Yeah, I think on our best day we can definitely beat those. This horse is definitely going to be an ever better chaser next season.

3.20 Wincanton – Pain Au Chocolat

The Kingwell was always going to cut up given the ground. If he’s back to anything like his best Irving will be hard to beat even though he’s carrying an 8lb penalty. He didn’t run so well up at Newcastle but he’s had a nice break since then. I entered Pain Au Chocolat for the race as I thought it would cut up, and there are no novice chases around at the moment that would suit him.

It’s a valuable hurdle and he’s bang there on ratings with Rayvin Black and Melodic Rendezvous, he’s fine on the ground and the track will be perfect for him. He has got to step up on what he’s shown over hurdles, but I think he’s now running to an even better level over fences than he did over hurdles which suggests he’s improved with age and experience. I think the figures show that he’s a better horse this year than last year, so that’s why we are having a go and think we can go well. We are also coming here off the back of winning a race very easily; OK it was a non-event, but my horse is still quite fresh, whereas Rayvin Black and Melodic Rendezvous have been having tough races recently.

Sunday

3.55 Market Rasen – Fairytale Theatre

She looks one of the best in at the weights. There’s a load of rain forecast to come in which will suit her, and she’s been jumping her fences well at home. She ran a pretty ordinary race last time but to be fair her run before was a career best so it was always going to be hard for her to back up a career best. She gets the mares’ allowance in this race, so I think she has a good chance.

Dan.