The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
RACING: Henderson bypasses Cheltenham to send stayer for debut over fences
can make a winning debut over fences in the Mayfield Sussex Hop Gin Novices’ Chase at Plumpton.
Extremely talented but just as fragile, the eight-year-old has only made it to the track seven times.
While he has only won three of those, he was second in the Albert Bartlett last season to Kilbricken Storm, finishing in front of his highlytouted stablemate Santini.
While Santini did turn the tables at Aintree, Ok Corral possibly found that track a bit sharp.
An out-and-out stayer, Nicky Henderson had declared him to run at Cheltenham on Saturday but pulled him out on account of the quick ground.
Plumpton often attracts a decent novice chaser as they offer a bonus to any who can win there and at Cheltenham in March, and Henderson will no doubt already be thinking of the festival given how well he handled the occasion last term.
Alan King’s caught a tartar last time at Newbury and should take the beating in the Derek Hunnisett Memorial “National Hunt” Auction Maiden Hurdle.
He was second to Tom Lacey’s Kateson, who looks destined for bigger things and is heading towards the Grade One Challow Hurdle next.
Mr Pumblechook arguably travelled better to the second-last before being outbattled, but there was no shame in that and he should surely have no trouble opening his account.
is trained by Rebecca Curtis and runs in the colours made famous by her fine staying chaser Teaforthree.
He has got a long way to go to achieve anything like that one, but he made a nice enough start to life under rules when third to the potentially useful Danny Whizzbang at Hereford.
12.40 Urbanist, 1.10 Leaving Home, 1.45 Carole’s Vigilante, 2.15 Financial Outcome, 2.50 Radical Archie, 3.20 Sutter’s Mill, 3.50 Stick With Bill.
12.25 Collooney, 12.55 OK CORRAL (NAP), 1.30 Mr Pumblechook, 2.00 I See You Well, 2.35 Seaweed, 3.05 Bolister, 3.35 Jackson Hill.
DOUBLE: Ok Pumblechook. Corral and Mr