By Charlie McCann
Paul Nicholls enjoyed a somewhat frustrating two-days at Cheltenham with Vicente his solitary winner from a hatful of runners over the weekend (two seconds both caught late on) but Alcala (2.40) should see the stable back in the winners' enclosure on an excellent card of NH racing this afternoon at Exeter.
The 4-y-o arrived from France last term with a lofty reputation and was pitched in the deep end when far from disgraced finishing fourth in the G2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. The form of that race has worked out particularly well and the selection can get the better of a host of stoutly-bred NH animals from the Bailey, Hobbs, King and Pipe stables.
Nicholls runs Far West in the beginners' chase on the card with the 147-rated hurdler making his debut over the larger obstacles after a luckless campaign last term however the 6-y-o looks set to enjoy further disappointment with Puffin Billy (3.10) taken to thrive over fences and extend the fine run of form of the Oliver Sherwood stable. The selection will appreciate the forecast rain and boasts the strongest form in the race from his excellent fifth-place finish behind subsequent G1-winners Champagne Fever, My Tent or Yours and Jezki in the Supreme Novices Hurdle in 2012. Despite disappointing on his sole start last term he remains with unlimited potential and can confirm the belief of his trainer that he will be even better when sent chasing.
Court by Surprise (3.40) can land the feature 3m handicap chase for Aidan Coleman and Emma Lavelle with the 9-y-o boasting a tremendous record fresh first time out and beaten less than a length on his seasonal beau from a 1lb higher mark last season at Chepstow. The selection has been given a chance by the handicapper and is just 2lb his last winning mark when successful in an excellent renewal of the BetVictor.com 3m handicap chase at Doncaster in December 2012.
Victor Dartnall's Jewellery (4.40) was let down by her jumping last time out at Sedgefield however the 7-y-o remains undoubtedly well-treated and can return to winning ways in the two and a half miles handicap chase on the card. The 7-y-o chased home David Pipe's subsequent scorer Famousandfearless over the same trip two starts ago at Plumpton and, on that form-line, can return to winning ways from just a 3lb higher mark.
It has become something of a rarity to see Frankie Dettori riding midweek, let alone on the all-weather, however Lanfranco is Lingfield bound this afternoon to ride Taysh (2.30) for his retained owners Al Shaqab Racing. The colt was second on debut at Newcastle when chasing home a smart prospect for Sir Michael Stoute and Her Majesty the Queen and with a run under his belt the expensive purchase can shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking.
There's a twilight card at Kempton Park with William Buick bidding to maintain his excellent strike-rate at the track this season and 23 winners coming at a 25% strike-rate. Buick rode two of Appleby's winners in the trainer's incredible five-timer here earlier in the season and Yodelling (7.00) was yet another winner for the stable when making a winning debut last month. She should take all the beating in the feature 2-y-o Conditions Stakes over a mile after impressing against rivals that already had the benefit of experience on her sole outing thus far and can maintain her unbeaten record en-route to pattern company thereafter.
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