The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Trainers’ battle rages on at Perth and Warwick
With just days of the 2015-16 season to go, most interest is reserved for the jumps action and the battle royal between Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins for the trainers’ title.
Mullins sends runners to Perth while Nicholls has opted to bypass the Scone track’s fixture, and TOWNSHEND can pick up some valuable prize money for the Irish handler in the Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old has seen only limited action for Mullins so far, disappointing when failing to strike as favourite on two starts to date.
He raced too keenly when fourth at Fairyhouse in February, with Cheltenham victor Mall Dini just in front of him, while he never looked like getting into a challenging position when down the field at Kempton last month.
Mullins is clearly chasing every penny and a drop in class should help his charge’s chance here.
STILLETTO can make a significant contribution to Nicholls’ tally with victory in the Close Brothers Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Warwick.
The £25,000 event looks a fine opportunity for this seven-year-old after he fluffed his lines on his big day at the Cheltenham Festival.
Sent off joint favourite for a Grade Three heat, he got no further than the third fence as Empire Of Dirt went on to a clear-cut victory.
Stilletto is clearly more than capable when he gets it right, as his previous win at Leicester showed, so Nicholls will hoping for a clear round here.
SELECTIONS
PERTH: 2.00 Townshend, 2.30 Cadore, 3.00 Shear Rock, 3.30 Gallic Warrior, 4.00 Just Cameron, 4.30 Milans Well, 5.05 Benny’s Secret.
WARWICK: 1.40 Sporting Milan, 2.10 Ted’s Lad, 2.40 Join The Navy, 3.10 Must meet a lady, 3.40 Stilletto, 4.10 Arbeo, 4.40 Clondaw Cracker, 5.15 Our Mick.
DOUBLE: Townshend and Stilletto.