THE Jane Williams-trained Inside Man caught something of a tartar on his hurdling debut and can make amends in the Kings College Taunton Junior “National Hunt” Hurdle at Taunton.
The winner, Paul Nicholls’ Liari, looks a very promising juvenile and won a Listed event at Aintree on Saturday.
Inside Man was only beaten three-quarters of a length, which may flatter him, but nevertheless made a very promising start to his career.
Like many from the yard, he is French bred and likely to improve with racing.
Fiercely Proud could be a very nice prospect for Ben Pauling and he goes again in the first division of the Jetset Tours And Flights Novices’ Hurdle.
He won his first two bumpers and then ran in the championship events at Cheltenham and Aintree, showing what connections think of him.
An easy winner on his hurdling debut at Hereford, he faces some nice types in this but if he can win it with a penalty, he will prove himself above average.
Marsh Wren jumped with aplomb on her chasing debut and can take the Larkshill Engineering Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase on just her second outing over fences at Warwick.
Stuart Edmunds’ seven-year-old is lightly-raced and there is surely more to come from her.
She won her only bumper and four of her eight races over hurdles before being sent chasing this term and looked a natural at Warwick on her debut last month.
There is a slight concern that she has never put two good runs together, but the argument that she is only best when fresh does not hold much water given she came back from a 50-day break last February, was well beaten but then won her next outing.
She meets the second and third from her last race again in Game On For Glory and Moviddy and while there was not much between them, Marsh Wren is actually better off with the pair on this occasion.
The big danger is Nicky Henderson’s Arclight, who has impressed in two runs over fences but two and a half miles in heavy ground might not be what she wants as a four-year-old.
Dan Skelton’s Etalon goes chasing on what looks a very workable mark in the M-Tec Engineering Solutions Novices’ Handicap Chase.
This six-year-old only won once over hurdles when odds-on at Wetherby but took a big step forward when fourth in the EBF Final at Sandown to Crambo.
He showed there that testing ground is no issue and he was only marking time over hurdles.
Sue Smith has started having winners and could have a good day at Newcastle.
Her East Street won last time out at Wetherby and should go well again in the Living North Magazines Handicap Chase with Brian Hughes in the plate.
Stablemate North Parade should strip a good deal fitter than for his comeback at Sedgefield when the yard was out of form when he runs in the Living North At 25 Years Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
However, the best bet as Gosforth Park is Sandy Thomson’s War Soldier in the Living North Live Handicap Hurdle.
He goes through testing ground fine and is surely better than a mark of 119 based on his two victories last term.
At Chelmsford, Charlie Appleby’s Bold Style should go one better than on his debut in the British EBF Future Stayers’ Novice Stakes.
A beaten favourite on his Wolverhampton bow, he wandered about a little in the closing stages but should know more about the job now.
Stablemate Desert Order had a Listed winner back in third when winning a Newmarket handicap in October 2022.
He has been gelded since and has clearly had issues to be off so long, but the fact the powerful Godolphin operation are persevering is a tip in itself ahead of the Chelmsford City Racecourse Membership Handicap.
