Ryan’s Rocket ready for lift-off as he looks to claim first win over hurdles at Taunton

Ryan’s Rocket can get off the mark for Fergal O’brien in the Chetwood Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton.

The six-year-old was a point to point winner in 2022 but failed to make an impact on his sole bumper run, trailing home a well-beaten 10th at Newbury in November.

Connections swiftly switched his sights to hurdles and Ryan’s Rocket took a leap forward with a three-quarter-length second to Fiercely Proud, who has subsequently placed twice in Grade Two company.

That form is clearly pretty smart and Ryan’s Rocket looks a likely winner.

The O’brien team could also be on the scoresheet in the concluding Grand National Lunch 13th April Open National Hunt Flat Race where Full Monty can build on a respectable debut at Newton Abbot last summer. Sent off 13-8 favourite on that occasion, inexperience meant he was unable to do himself justice.

However, he is sure to have benefitted for that first day of school and related to a pair of useful bumper winners, can show his true colours this time.

Asinara’s 1000 Guineas entry appears to be flying a bit high at present, but a win in the BETMGM: It’s Showtime Restricted Maiden Stakes at Southffrench well might see her 100-1 odds clipped a little.

Trained by Charlie Hills, this daughter of Harry Angel hails from a fair family and made a decent start when just touched off on her racecourse bow.

She looked pretty green on debut but stayed on well to be beaten just a short head over the same seven-furlong distance she faces here and that experience should stand her in good stead.

Meanwhile, Dominic Davis is keen to see the rain keep falling ahead of a Classic tilt with Persian Dreamer later this spring.

She holds entries for both the Qipco 1000 Guineas and the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, with the daughter of Calyx winning both a Rowley Mile maiden and the July course’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes impressively at Newmarket during her twoyear-old season.

She signed off her juvenile campaign with a respectable effort in the Cheveley Park Stakes and with her best form coming at HQ with cut in the ground, her handler is hoping conditions allow her to take part in the opening fillies Classic of the season back on the Rowley Mile.

“Persian Dreamer is not back in the yard yet, she’s over with Robson Aguiar in Ireland but he tells me she’s doing well so we’re looking forward to her coming back,” said the trainer.

“I hope this rain continues because to win a Group One with her would be the aim, but she needs to get her toe in. She’ll run in one of the Guineas, whether she runs before that we’ll see what happens with the weather.”