Wholestone is ready to roll at favourite track
HE MAY not be a big fan of Newbury but WHOLESTONE (Cheltenham, 3.10) displays a whole lotta love for Prestbury Park and can enhance his tremendous track record in today’s Relkeel Hurdle.
For the second successive season, Nigel Twiston-Davies’s likeable hurdler posted an abysmal showing in the Long Distance Hurdle, but hopefully he can repeat his achievements of 12 months ago and complete a winning comeback.
Track statistics of 12113123 confirm Wholestone as an admirable campaigner at the British HQ of National Hunt racing and, although he has 20 lengths to make up on Clyne from their encounter last time, a switch to his favourite venue could make all the difference.
The selection’s comeback win at Aintree in November was within hailing distance of his best performances and regular rider Daryl Jacob (below) believes his mount can defend an unbeaten record at two and a half miles.
‘There have been no problems with Wholestone since Newbury and he has been working very well,’ said Jacob. ‘He likes Cheltenham and we’re going back with high hopes for a good run.’ AUX PTITS SOINS (Cheltenham, nap, 2.35) may be the equine equivalent of Darren Anderton or Vincent Kompany, but he too is a very useful performer when fit and his tremendously patient connections may gain reward for their perseverance today. The fragile nine-year-old was well regarded when trained by Paul Nicholls but physical problems have denied him the chance to make a mark at the top level. There was more than a glimmer of promise in the grey’s comeback at Newbury in a strongly contested handicap to suggest a race of today’s nature is within his compass and he could be some value to turn the tables on that day’s winner Vive Le Roi. Earlier, ROLLING DYLAN (Cheltenham, 12.50) should take some beating in the staying handicap chase, while Nicky Henderson takes the wraps off another terrific novice hurdler when I CAN’T EXPLAIN (Cheltenham, 12.15) bids to follow up his impressive Sandown debut win over hurdles.