NOW the jumps season has found its stride we will be treated to a wealth of top-class racing every Saturday.
It is a pity, though, the midweek action is largely confined to bread-and-butter stuff, but there is not the money around to give it the injection it needs.
I must confess, however, I find run-of-the-mill meetings more enjoyable during the winter than on the Flat. It is a greater spectacle because there are obstacles in the way – even if the same horses are competing against each other on a regular basis.
Today, Nicky Henderson sends out two of his big guns.
Gold Cup hero Long Run makes his eagerly awaited reappearance at Haydock and Oscar Whisky, third in the Champion Hurdle, embarking on a new campaign in Ascot’s Coral Hurdle.
Connections of Oscar Whisky thought long and hard about going chasing with the six-year-old this season, but opted for the staying hurdler route instead despite the presence of Big Buck’s.
That confrontation will come later, but in the meantime he can emulate the likes of Baracouda and Hardy Eustace who defied the maximum penalty in this Grade Two prize at the Berkshire venue.
We will know more about Oscar Whisky’s prospects of challenging for the stayers’ title at Cheltenham in March if he emerges successful from his seasonal debut.
It will be no easy task conceding 7lb to King Of The Night and Overturn.
Paul Nicholls won this event a year ago with Silviniaco Conti and in King Of The Night he has an up-and-coming hurdler who has earned this step up in class after two handicap successes this season. There was much to like about his performance at Kempton last time.
While the versatile Overturn was some way behind Oscar Whisky in the Champion Hurdle, he has been a credit to his trainer Donald McCain who has placed him so well to win over hurdles and on the Flat.
He should continue to make his presence felt in top hurdle races if allowed an uncontested lead and this longer trip could offer more options.
However, he needs to get his revenge on Oscar Whisky on these terms or he might he difficult to place in future.
Paul Nicholls blamed himself for the surprise defeat of Master Minded in Aintree’s Old Roan Chase last month and will strip a lot fitter when he attempts to repeat last year’s win in the Amlin 1965 Chase.
Somersby has obvious claims on his running in the Victor Chandler Chase over the course in January when short-headed by Master Minded at level weights. He now receives 4lb but keeps falling short and has to be rated a nearly horse until he proves otherwise.
