Highly rated Ribble Valley can make winning start to season at Carlisle
RibbleV alley is expected to make a successful start to his season at Carlisle.
The dual bumper winner was one of the most exciting novice hurdlers on the northern circuit last term, following up a wide-margin win on his jumping debut at Hexham last November with a similarly dominant display at Wetherby a few weeks later.
The Nicky Richards-trained seven-year-old was sub sequently sent off favourite for the Grade Two Supreme Trial at Ascot - and while he came up short behind Master Debonair, he finished a clear second, ahead of the high- class Mcfabulous among others.
Richards felt conditions were too testing for his latest stable star in Berkshire and planned a spring campaign on better ground before the coronavirus pandemic brought an early end to his campaign.
With a decent racing surface set to prevail in Cumbria, the Watch Irish Racing On racingtv.com Intermediate Hurdle look san ideal comeback target for a horse with plenty of potential.
It could be another profitable afternoon for Richards at his local track, because the Greystoke handler also looks to have excellent claims of striking gold with No Regrets in the racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle.
The Presenting gelding has taken a little while to find his feet over obstacles, but that did at least mean he entered handicaps from a workable mark of 99.
Since placing third on his handicap bow at Per thin July, No Regrets has won
by 16 length sat South well and a massive 36 lengths at Stratford to confirm himself very much on a steep upward curve.
The assessor responded to his latest triumph by raising him 11lb to a rating of 117, but it may not be enough to stop him completing his hat-trick in the extremely capable hands of the champion jockey Brian Hughes.
Golden Taipan catches the eye in the Quality Horse Racing Tipsters At tip sters empire. co.uk Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Ludlow.
Amid -130 sr at ed hurdler, Fergal O'brien's inmate largely impressed in the jumping department on his fencing debut at Warwick three weeks ago before weakening to finish last of four runners behind the very useful and highly rated Getaway Trump.
Given that was Golden Taipan' s first competitive appearance since February - and first since undergoing a wind operation during the summer - there is every chance he will improve significantly for the outing.
A mark of 130 does not look unrealistic as he enters the handicap arena over the larger obstacles for the first time.