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Racing News |
Poker De Sivola “Bouncing” Ahead of totesportbingo.com Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby
27/01/09
Ferdy Murphy is looking forward to running Poker De Sivola in the £33,000 Grade Two totesportbingo.com Towton Novices’ Chase (3.25pm) at Wetherby on Saturday, January 31.
The six-year-old is among 11 entries and steps up to three miles and a furlong for his fourth start over fences after narrowly losing out to Shouldhavehadthat over an extended two and three-quarter miles at Newbury on December 29.
Murphy revealed this morning: “The plan is to go for the totesportbingo.com Towton Novices’ Chase. It looks like it should be a competitive race and my fellow will take his chance - that amount of prize money is not to be sniffed at.
“We’re looking forward to a decent effort. He’s very well and the girl who rides him every morning said yesterday that he’s bouncing and we need to find a race for him, so he goes there in good form.
“Timmy (Murphy) was delighted with him at Newbury. He said he actually got his head in front and the other fellow rallied to do him on the line but Poker De Sivola was back in front two strides after.”
The West Witton trainer has no concerns about ground conditions for Poker De Sivola and believes Wetherby’s long home straight will suit his horse.
“He’ll go on any ground, so there are no worries there with him. He has won round Hexham twice on soft ground but I would say he’ll be better when the ground comes better. He comes home very well and tracks with a long straight seem to suit him - he likes Ascot and Newbury.”
Also seeking to win Wetherby’s most prestigious novice chase is trainer Howard Johnson, who has engaged Companero, unbeaten in three starts over fences, most recently at Ayr on January 10. Johnson could also saddle Belon Gale and Marleybow.
The Donald McCain-trained Will Be Done, twice a winner at Wetherby, won the Grade Two Blue Square Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles at Haydock on January 17, and needs to prove his stamina, as does Lightning Strike, trained by Venetia Williams, who won over two miles, three furlongs at Doncaster on January 24.
Len Lungo could saddle the well-regarded Skippers Brig, who is seeking a hat-trick over fences after defeating Chief Dan George at Carlisle on December 21.
Kornati Kid won a beginners’ chase over three miles at Exeter last time for trainer Philip Hobbs, while Sue Smith could saddle Aurora’s Encore and Stagecoach Opal. The entry is completed by the Chris Gordon-trained Monzon.
The totesportbingo.com Towton Novices' Chase boasts an illustrious roll of honour. Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Mr Mulligan triumphed in 1996, while Escartefigue, successful in 1998, went on to finish second to Teeton Mill in that year's King George VI Chase.
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Sue Smith saddled Royal Emperor to victory in 2004. The grey went close to Cheltenham glory on his next start, finding only Rule Supreme too good in the Grade One RSA Chase.
The 2005 winner Ollie Magern returned to Wetherby to collect the Grade Two Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase in both 2005 and 2007, while Halcon Genelardais, victorious in 2006, won the Welsh National at Chepstow later the same year.
Supported for the third time by totesport, the Towton Novices’ Chase was last held in 2007 (last year's meeting was abandoned) and was won by the mare, Heltornic, who went on to land a valuable handicap at Haydock Park on her next start.
A fantastic seven-race card at Wetherby on Saturday also includes the competitive £20,000 totesportcasino.com Handicap Chase (2.20pm) over an extended two and a half miles. The race has attracted 14 entries, including Ellerslie George from the in-form Howard Johnson stable, who has already won twice at Wetherby this season. The entry also features the Nicky Richards-trained The Whisperer and Saunders Road from Venetia Williams’ Hereford yard.
Action gets underway with the TurfTV Handicap Hurdle at 1.15pm while one of the UK's leading telecommunications companies, European Communications, returns to Wetherby to support the European Communications Mares' Novices' Hurdle (1.45pm).
Also on the card are the totesportgames.com Handicap Hurdle (2.50pm), the Bramham Hall For Conferences & Banqueting Handicap Chase (4.00pm) and the Saturday 14th March Is Irish Day Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (4.30pm).
A giant screen, situated opposite the main stands, will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action, including racing from Sandown Park. There is also musical entertainment by Bavarian Band ‘Herr Jen'.
Going latest
The going at Wetherby is currently soft, good to soft in places. Rain is forecast for Tuesday night with the rest of the week predicted to be dry.
Advance tickets can be purchased at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk or by phoning 01937 582 035.
Admission Prices (January 31): Premier Enclosure £21, Paddock Enclosure £14, Pick of the Paddock £19 (includes admission to the Paddock Enclosure, £4 Refreshment Voucher, £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard), Pick of the Premier £32 (includes admission to the Premier Enclosure, 2 x £4 Refreshment Voucher, 2 x £2 Tote Betting Voucher and Racecard).
