Nicholls-trained Jackpot D’athou can get back on track by scooping Taunton prize
Jackpot D'athou is fancied to redeem his lofty reputation by claiming victory in the Blackdown Motor Company Novices' Hurdle at Taunton.
The French import looked set to justify his big price tag of €165,000 when returning from a spell on the sidelines to win going away at Chepstow in early November. Runner-up Party Vibes has since franked that form by scoring at Wincanton and Market Rasen to earn a rating of 121.
Paul Nicholls initially planned to step Jackpot D'athou up to Grade One company at Aintree on Boxing Day, only for heavy ground to rule out a trip to Liverpool.
Instead, the five-year-old returned to Chepstow, where he let favourite-backers down by finishing a distant fourth, fading badly after coming under pressure three out.
However, despite all the recent rain, the hope is that he will encounter better conditions at Taunton, which should allow him to show his true worth and get back on track.
Kingofthewest has been running well for David Pipe and gets the nod in the Richard Williams Memorial Handicap Chase.
He showed a good attitude to get up late on at Chepstow last month and was unlucky to run into a well-treated winner
in Clonakilty when second at Lingfield recently.
Sorceleur can be another scorer for Nicholls and titlechasing jockey Harry Cobden in the Free Racing On Monday 11th March Open National Hunt Flat Race.
He has been placed in a couple of decent bumpers behind hot prospect Kel Du Large, who again impressed when making a successful debut
over hurdles at Hereford on Sunday.
Hara Kiri can kick things off at Ludlow by landing the intriguingly-named Prestigious Loo Of The Year Awards Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
Having shown promise in bumpers for Willie Mullins, this gelding lost his way a bit after joining Alex Hales.
However, another switch to
Olly Murphy seems to have rejuvenated him, with an encouraging third at Leicester followed up by a nice Market Rasen success.
Hara Kiri came with a late surge to quicken up past a well-backed previous winner in Good Lord close home that day, and the first two pulled 13 lengths clear of the third.
Wreckless Eric stands out at Wetherby in the Visit Irish Bloodstock Sales With ITM Junior'nationalhunt'hurdle.
Ben Pauling's youngsters have been in grand form this season and this four-year-old is taken to go one better than when a promising runner-up to Valadon at Newbury, where only greenness may have cost him victory.