MONEY SPINNER

NORTHERN star Sam Spinner returns to action at Newbury today with trainer Jedd O’Keeffe hoping he is even better than last season.

The North Yorkshire handler says trying to win Newbury’s Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle with his stable ace first time out against race-fit rivals is a tough task.

The six-year-old rose through the ranks last season, winning the Long Walk Hurdle en route to being sent off favourite at the Cheltenham Festival in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Given his young age, O’Keeffe is hoping Sam Spinner can improve again.

He said: “The Grade

One penalty makes life tougher and his two main dangers, Unowhatimeanharry and Wholestone, have both had a run at

Aintree and both ran well. What I hope is that given he’s still relatively inexperienced, there’s more to come.

“Things have happened very fast for him, his novice year was cut short by a foot problem and then he shot up through the ranks last year when he was still inexperienced.

“What we’re hoping is that he’s stronger, wiser and more clued-up. The signs at home are very good and the rider Joe

Colliver is telling me he feels like that but we’ll find out when we get him out there.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies’

Wholestone was a smooth winner on his comeback at Aintree over two-and-a-half miles, beating Fighting

Fifth-bound Vision

Des Flos. Consistent all last season bar one blip in the corresponding race 12 months ago, he won the Relkeel Hurdle and went on to be third in the Stayers’ Hurdle and second at Aintree.

“I was delighted with him at Aintree, he won really well,” said Twiston-Davies.

“I don’t think it’s a case of him getting any quicker, he’s always had plenty of pace, but he stays really well, too.

“He’s so consistent, always runs his race and is a joy to train.”

Third behind Wholestone at Aintree was Harry Fry’s Unowhatimeanharry, who was once the benchmark in the division but turns 11 in a few weeks.

“He’s all set to run and we’re looking forward to it,” said Fry.

“Two-and-a-half was a bit too short for him at Aintree but it was a good comeback run and he was staying on all the way to the line.

“Stepping back up to three miles will suit him and he’s mad fit.”