Golden Girl set to shine
JER’S Girl promises to be the star turn on a good card at Kempton, where she runs in the Listed OLBG Mares’ Hurdle.
The Gavin Cromwell-trained Irish raider can more often be found plying her trade against some of the best hurdlers around, and while this might not be totally straightforward, she is expected to take advantage of the drop in class.
The five-year-old was last seen finishing second to the top-notch Apple’s Jade in a Grade Two at Navan, having previously been fourth to former Champion Hurdle hero Jezki at Tipperary.
Her finest hour to date came at Punchestown last year when winning the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle and something like her best form should be good enough, especially as she gets weight from her two main dangers, La Bague Au Roi and Midnight Tour.
Brain Power is the one to follow in the racinguk.com Novices’ Chase as he makes his fencing bow.
A very useful individual over hurdles for Nicky Henderson, the sixyear-old won a valuable event at Ascot at last year’s Christmas meeting before having his sights raised to Grade One company.
He was not disgraced, either, running with credit to be eighth to stablemate Buveur D’Air in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and not being far away when fifth behind Wicklow Brave in the Punchestown equivalent. His jumping has not always been flawless, but Henderson will surely have been dishing out some tough tests on the schooling ground in preparation for this and he could take high rank in the novice division this season.
Play The Ace has been in great heart recently and can keep up the good work in the Racing UK.com/ Join Handicap Chase.
Peter Bowen’s charge is a particularly formidable opponent at Stratford, where he has won four times, but looked equally as good at Wincanton last time out and should find ground conditions just about ideal.
Chirico Vallis made a winning start for Neil Mulholland at Southwell and strike again in Ludlow’s totequadpot Handicap Chase.
Formerly trained by Gordon Elliott, Chirico Vallis switched to Mulholland’s care in the summer and duly shone on his British bow when also tackling fences for the first time.
While the race he won at the Nottinghamshire circuit was something of a penalty kick – he was sent off the 1-10 favourite – Chirico Vallis impressed with his jumping on good ground.
He is likely to face more testing conditions here, but having been a winner on heavy ground in Ireland, Chirico Vallis should not have any problems on that score.