Richards’ Petite Ganache chasing more Musselburgh glory

Nicky Richards is after more course success with Petite Ganache at the behind-closeddoors fixture at Musselburgh today. by champion jockey Brian Hughes, the top-weight faces five rivals in the William Hill Money Back Second Novices’ Handicap Chase over three miles.

Richards, who is based at the historic Greystoke stables in Cumbria, said: “He seems to enjoy going round there as he’s won over hurdles and fences. Brian gets a nice tune out of him and he’s ridden him every time he’s won including for his other win at Newcastle.

“He gave him a great ride when they won over course and distance back in January but I suppose that’s why he’s the champion. This is a horse that’s always had a fair bit of ability so maybe he can do it again for us even though he has a big weight on his back.”

The opposition to Petite Ganache includes Not The Chablis, trained by Nick Alexander. His three runs over fences have all come at Musselburgh and they include twice coming second at the East Lothian venue over 2m 4f in December and January.

Likely hot favourite Skatridden man could get the card off to a flyer for Paul Nicholls and his stable jockey Harry Cobden in the William Hill Pick Your Places Maiden Hurdle. The pair team up in two other races at a track where both boast healthy strike-rates while Cobden also rides Captain Buck’s, formerly trained by Nicholls, in the hunters’ chase.

Meanwhile, a significant investment in prize money at Kelso has been rewarded with a stellar array of entries for the eight races on bet365 Morebattle Hurdle Day on Saturday 6 March.

Among the 13 potential runners in the £45,000 bet365 Premier Steeplechase are six with entries in the Grand National, including the favourite for the Aintree feature Cloth Cap and third-favourite Kimberlite Candy. Other possible runners in the three-miles test include last year’s winner Definitely Red, Lake View Lad, Top Notch and Aso. The top-rated horse is Nutswell, a two-time winner at Kelso who also claimed the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October.

Proschema, trained by Dan Skelton, has been installed by the sponsors as favourite for the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle. Nicholls is triple-handed with Christopher Wood, Miranda and Solo.

At £213,000, the fixture will by the richest in Kelso’s 199year history.