WE HEAD into this weekend’s action with the horses continuing to perform well and it’s nice to get back to a normal routine at Seven Barrows after the Christmas and New Year festivities and I’d like to thank everyone for their very kind messages during that period.

I was very pleased with Champ winning the G1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury last Saturday and he’s come out of the race in great form. I think the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is where we’ll work back from so we’ll have a look at the race on Festival Trials day at Cheltenham on 26^th January as a likely next target because I do think he needs to gain some more experience and if he can get it around there, all the better.

Beware The Bear really enjoyed himself making all the running to win at Cheltenham on New Years Day and despite getting a soft lead and sporting visors, I think that would have done his confidence a lot of good and, who knows, he might be the sort of horse to take us to the Grand National as he has the right profile. He’s not the fastest person in the world so 4m+ around Aintree should give him plenty of time to play catch up, very much like he did in the Ladbrokes Trophy last month. There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between then and now however, so he’ll probably run in something like the Ultima Chase at The Festival in March.

Speaking of the National, Valtor was bought for having a crack at that race but I may have blown his chance now as he did well to win off his mark of 148 at Ascot but he is still a novice over hurdles so we have that option if we need to.

I think Santini ran an excellent race in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day and all the time gurus tell me his sectionals were very quick. It’s disappointing not to win, but the course would have been much too sharp for him and he’ll be much better suited by a more galloping track so we may have a look at the Reynoldstown at Ascot as his RSA prep.

We're delighted to work with @itvracing @TheJockeyClub @Sandownpark @ACooperClerk & @BHAPressOffice to ensure ITV's audience get to see LAURINA tomorrow.

⏲️ The race time for @unibet Mares Hurdle is now 1.50pm #RoadToCheltenhampic.twitter.com/G4wIaFMOQZ

— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) January 4, 2019

On The Blind Side was unfortunately very ring rusty on his Chase debut last week and after giving the first fence abit of a nudge he was on the back foot thereafter and Nico just schooled him around for the rest of the way. He was never any threat whatsoever but galloped strongly to the line (albeit well beaten) so on that evidence you’d have to think maybe he looks like he wants three miles. I’ve always maintained that I’m not the biggest fan of my horses making their debuts over fences around there as it can really knock the stuffing out of them and Might Bite is a fine example of that – we literally had to go back and start all over again with him.

Many have been asking about River Wylde and I’m really pleased to report that all is going well with him. He suffered a terrible fall at Haydock and received a nasty cut which put him out of action for a few weeks but he’s back being ridden now and will canter next week.

Runners at two meetings this weekend and my thoughts on their chances are below.

SANDOWN

1:20 Handicap Chase

Darius Des Bois (Sean Bowen)

He’s still a novice over fences but is very progressive and was a fair second at Ludlow on his seasonal debut, which he will have come on for, and as long as the ground isn’t too tacky, I expect him to go well. He might want more than 2m4f but this doesn’t look the strongest race and I can see him going going close.

2:25 G1 Unibet Tolworth Hurdle

Rathhill (Barry Geraghty)

He was very impressive on debut for us at Newbury and I was particularly pleased with the way he travelled. I quite fancied him to go close but probably not to do it the way he did. He’s a speedy horse with a high cruising speed and I’ve been very happy with him since Newbury. After having four original entries, we’ve narrowed it down to this guy so I hope we made the right decision as I’m in no rush to go beyond 2m with him for the time being. There’s a 2m4f Novice Hurdle at Warwick next weekend, which we won with Mr Whipped last year, and that’s where we’ll go with Birchdale – I just need to find something for Epatante now!

WINCANTON

2:05 Novices’ Handicap Chase

Kupatana (Nico de Boinville)

She had a blip over course and distance when she unshipped James Bowen but it wasn’t his fault it’s just one of those things. She has done lots of schooling since and this looks a great opportunity for her to regain winning ways.

2:40 Handicap Hurdle

Wallace Spirit (Jerry McGrath)

We all saw what he did at Kempton in October when he should have won but decided to take a detour through the club enclosure and threw his race away, but he’s a very talented horse and as long as he behaves himself I think he has a very good chance indeed. There was once a very good horse called Wayward Lad and this animal would certainly live up to that name!

3:15 Handicap Chase

Theinval (Jerry McGrath)

He’s quite high in the weights but would have to enter calculations on ground which he will like and 2m4f on a flat track really suits him. I certainly wouldn’t put you off backing him each way as he’s a very consistent person.