The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hoff will have little trouble this time
Skelton’s charge can make up for Fontwell slip-up
NO HASSLE HOFF can make amends for an unfortunate slip-up at Fontwell when he contests the bet365 Maiden Hurdle at Hereford.
Dan Skelton’s four-year-old, a recruit from the Irish point-to-point circuit, had been the subject of deep stable positivity ahead of his hurdling debut on November 4.
No Hassle Hoff was sent on his way a 1-7 favourite in a two-runner novice hurdle for conditional jockeys, and all appeared to be going swimmingly.
That was until the final flight, when he fell with the race at his mercy.
No Hassle Hoff caught the eye before that, though, with an assured round of jumping so all trespasses can be forgiven in Herefordshire.
ZEROESHADESOFGREY can continue his rise through the chasing ranks at Wetherby.
Neil King’s 142-rated hurdler did not look a natural on his sole start over fences last season, but he now clearly knows a great deal more about the job.
The seven-year-old grey jumped really well over this course and distance in October, with the useful Royal Vacation a never-nearer second.
Zeroeshadesofgrey is only going to get better in his new vocation and can overcome a penalty in the racinguk.com/ daypass Novices’ Chase.
COOKING FAT was narrowly denied at Ayr earlier in the month but compensation awaits in the Follow At racing-uk On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.
Dianne Sayer’s chestnut went down by half-a-length to Hi George in an extended two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle on what was his first outing for 11 months.
Granted nominal improvement, he should be up to the job over this slightly shorter trip. Marco Botti has high hopes for
ZUMURUDEE in division one of the 32Red Casino Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton.
A perfectly satisfactory third at Chelmsford first time out offered promise, and though he was a beaten favourite on the back of that at the beginning of November, it has to be said the winner Crowned Eagle looked potentially smart on the day.
He would be most unlucky to bump into something similar here.
CRUISE TOTHELIMIT is the opposite of prolific when it comes to getting his head in front, but there are reasons for optimism in the Betway Sprint Distance Handicap.
Pat Morris’ eight-year-old put in a meritorious effort when second over this course and distance earlier in the month and despite the handicapper opting to raise him a pound for that, he remains a whopping 20lb below the mark
from which he won at Thirsk back in September 2014. SELECTIONS:
HEREFORD: 12.40 Bradford Bridge, 1.10 Doesyourdogbite, 1.40 NO HASSLE HOFF (NAP), 2.15 Lord Landen, 2.45 Midnight Tour, 3.20 Viking Mistress, 3.50 Scooby.
WETHERBY: 12.20 Eager To Know, 12.50 Catching Shadows, 1.20 Zeroeshadesofgrey, 1.55 Pongo Twistleton, 2.25 Rathlin, 3.00 Cooking Fat, 3.30 Goodgirlteresa.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 12.30 Lawfilly, 1.00 Halinka, 1.30 Zumurudee, 2.05 X Rated, 2.35 Princess Nia, 3.10 Sunscape, 3.40 Nonios, 4.10 Cruise Tothelimit.
DOUBLE: No Hassle Hoff and Cooking Fat