Punters would be nuts not to back Secret Squirrel at Taunton
Secret Squirrel's striking looks always take the eye but he also has the appearance of a likely winner in the second division of today’s Racing TV Club Day Novices' Hurdle at Taunton.
The chestnut has proved smart in four runs so far for Hughie Morrison, winning two bumpersinthelatterpartoflast season before making an excellent start over hurdles with a cosykemptonwininnovember.
His five-length length verdict was pretty taking but he faced a sterner test last time out in taking on Supreme hope Jeriko Du Reponet at Newbury just before the new year.
Beatenjustundertwolengths there, Jeriko Du Reponet has since won a Doncaster Grade Two, while the third-placed horse was a previous winner, giving the form a pleasing look.
Secret Squirrel steps up to two miles and three furlongs here which is not certain to suit, but his dam was a twomile winner and his sire, Stimulation, has produced a Sagaro Stakes winner despite showing his best at shorter trips.
Golden Ace is a similarly promising type who takes the next step up the ladder in the Stables Business Park Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Winner of one of her three bumper starts, which also included a fair second to Dysart Enos in a Grade Two Aintree contest, Golden Ace defied unsuitably testing ground to
score at the first time of asking over obstacles last month.
That looked a decent contest with the second, Lucky Place, having subsequently pushed Gidleigh Park all the way at Cheltenham, with the third-placed Insurrection had finished second at that level previously.
Golden Ace was getting a full 14lb from those rivals and will have to carry her winner's penalty this time, but if she is to be a Festival contender,
this should still be within her remit.
Listed honours are up for grabs at Market Rasen, with Park Princess the pick in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Alan Swinbank Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Anthony Honeyball's runner was a comfortable 10-length victor on debut and while the value of that form is open to question, it cannot be disputed that Park Princess was impressive.