Stage is all set for Newbury backers
Stage Star has looked very good this season and can provide Paul Nicholls with another festive Grade One in the MansionBet Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury tomorrow.
Smart in bumpers, despite winning only one out of three, he bumped into his classy stablemate Knappers Hill on two occasions and while coming off second best twice, there was only around a length between them on each occasion.
Over obstacles Stage Star looks set to come into his own, though, and his first two efforts have been almost faultless.
He began on good ground at Chepstow in October and while he may not have beaten much of note, he was not hard pressed to come six lengths clear. His win over this course and distance last time out, however, suggested he was right out of the top drawer when, despite carrying a penalty, he had no trouble in winning by over seven lengths.
This is obviously his toughest task yet, but there will be long faces at Ditcheat should he be beaten.
Trainer Richard Bandey is quickly making a name for himself and a few more people may sit up and take notice if Saint Palais wins the Follow @mansionbetraceOnTwitter Mandarin Handicap Chase.
Bandey is making full use of the four-year-old allowance over fences, which Saint Palais will lose on January 1.
Winless in four outings over hurdles, the French import looked a different proposition on his chasing debut at Worcester in October and was then given plenty of time off before he ran again at Wetherby earlier this month.
He met some decent rivals in Castle Robin and Cobra De Mai but Saint Palais made a mockery of a mark of 125, never coming off the bridle.
This will be tougher – he is 10lb higher in the weights for a start – but with a 9lb allowance he should still take all the beating.
Surrey Quest is another four-year-old with a bright future, this time for Nicky Henderson, and he continues his education in the British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster.
Beaten two lengths when second in his only bumper at Warwick in May, he subsequently underwent an operation on his wind. It clearly had the desired effect as he was a very impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Leicester, beating an odds-on favourite with the minimum of fuss.
This will ask more of him under a penalty, but he looked very promising at Leicester.
Nicholls’ Skatman is still lightly-raced and can score back in calmer waters in the Visit attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle. Sixth of 20 at Cheltenham in November, the handicapper still put him up a couple of pounds and he has plenty of scope to improve further.