Fire Flyer can light up Wincanton and clinch first win over jumps

Fire Flyer appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to open his account over obstacles in division two of the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices' Hurdle at Wincanton.

Thepaulnicholls-trainedsixyear-old won an Ascot bumper on his racecourse debut last season and while he was a little disappointing on his next start atnewbury,hehasputtogether two excellent runs in defeat so far this term.

Fire Flyer was done for a turn of foot by the classy Brechin Castle on his reappearance in Listed company at Cheltenham in November, while there was no disgrace in finishing second to another exciting prospect in subsequent Grade Two winner Gidleigh Park on his hurdling debut at Newbury last month.

He still looked a little inexperienced when push came to shoveonthelatteroccasionand withfurtherimprovementlikely, the Shantou gelding should prove extremely hard to beat.

Nicholls and his title-chasing stablejockeyharrycobdenare also expected to find the target withthehat-trick-seekingtake Your Time in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Chase.

Having seemingly lost his way overthesmallerobstacles,arelatively late switch to fences for this recently-turned nine-yearold appears to have turned his career around.

Hewasgoodvalueforthewinning

margin of half a length whenmakingasuccessfulreappearance and chasing debut at Newton Abbot in October and againshowedhislikingfortesting conditions when following upoverthiscourseanddistance last month.

An 8lb hike makes life tougher,buttakeyourtimeisclearly in rude health at the moment and is sure to be bang there at the finish.

A recent double at Fontwell advertised the excellent form of trainer Ben Clarke and the

Dorset handler is expected to addtohistallywithcast'stasha at Ffos Las.

Thewesternermarerounded off last season with a deserved win at Chepstow and while she has failed to add to her tally so farthiswinter,shehasrunthree fine races in defeat.

Heavy ground holds no fears for the seven-year-old and a slight ease in class can do the trick in the Discover Golwg Gwendraeth At www.dandara. com Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase.