First Class Return ready to stamp his authority

FIRST CLASS RETURN can deliver victory in the Follow Jigsaw Sports Branding On Twitter Handicap Chase at Southwell.

It is hardly an encouraging statistic that Olly Murphy’s eightyear-old has yet to locate the winning track as a 25-race maiden.

But only four of those efforts have been for current connections since his arrival from Ireland four months ago.

In that time, First Class Return has begun to find an encouraging level of form for this grade as runner-up on his last two runs over hurdles.

He is sent up in trip here to three miles for only the third time in his career, and this is his first chase in Britain – having had plenty of experience as a novice in Ireland.

He is also having his second start following a wind operation, and Harry Skelton rides him for the first time.

The market suggested he was expected to build on his Wincanton second at Ayr last time – when he again performed with credit but perhaps ran into an improving horse.

There are several promising indications that Murphy has found the right race for First Class Return here.

Skelton makes the trip from Warwickshire to ride his brother Dan’s CADZAND too in the Thank You NHS Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old could not deliver when welltouted for last month’s hugely competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

But this switch back to novice company, and first move up to two and a half miles under rules for the Charlton Horethorne point-to-point winner, presents an obvious opportunity for him to record a third victory in five starts this season.

There is an eye-catching jockey booking at Kelso, where champion Brian Hughes is riding Northern Irish challenger BELLANEY GEM in the Belhaven Best Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Stuart Crawford’s Antrim string are familiar travellers to Scotland – and although Bellaney Gem has yet to win in her 10 starts under rules, and two preceding point-to-points, she has fared well enough in Ireland to suggest she could be up to a task like this.

Hughes’ presence points to the yard’s intent and this minor move up in trip on an easy track and better ground all add up to winning ingredients.

SELECTIONS:

KELSO: 2.10 Storm Nelson, 2.40 Bellaney Gem, 3.10 Word Has It, 3.40 Golan Cloud, 4.10 Schiehallion Munro, 4.40 Chanting Hill, 5.10 Skyhill. PLUMPTON: 1.45 Robin Des Smoke, 2.18 Faustinovick, 2.48 Albert Hucklebuck, 3.18 Eaglehill, 3.50 Here’s Bingo, 4.20 Darkest Day. SOUTHWELL: 12.30 FIRST CLASS RETURN (NAP), 1.00 Commis D’office, 1.30 Amazing Presence, 2.03 Drumochter, 2.33 Cadzand, 3.03 Une De La Seniere, 3.33 Robsam. DOUBLE: Bellaney Gem and First Class Return.