Our Catching Pigeons column returns with all the gossip ahead of a big weekend of action - including a strong fancy in the Ladbrokes Trophy.
Whisper can see off the substantial challenge of American and Total Recall and win the inaugural running of the Ladbrokes Trophy for Nicky Henderson at Newbury on Saturday.
The champion trainer is mad keen to win the replacement for the Hennessy Gold Cup after landing that prize on three occasions since the millennium, and looks to have the ideal candidate in this high-class performer over both hurdles and fences. Beaten only by stablemate Might Bite in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, he warmed up for this target with a narrow win over Clan Des Obeaux over an inadequate two-and-a-half miles at Kempton last month.
There may have been only two runners but Whisper out-battled Clan Des Obeaux in a thriller at Kempton.
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) November 13, 2017
Results
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That performance was put nicely into perspective by the runner-up's win in a good class event at Haydock last week and Whisper has thrived for the outing. Most of the Seven Barrows team have needed their comeback runs this autumn and Whisper has come on plenty for his and has both worked and schooled well since. He looks a picture of health at present and his annoying habit of making an untidy jump at the wrong time can be offset by his impressive turn of foot.
Gold Present should go close to landing another good prize for Henderson in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase. Something of a wayward character in his early days, he is a very good-looking horse and showed last season that he's starting to grow up and show his true potential.
A winner on his fencing bow at Doncaster, he then ran well at Kempton - a course not totally ideal for him - before finishing second in the novices handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Back on a level course for his final start at the Aintree Grand National meeting, he was travelling strongly when he took a liberty with the Canal Turn in the ultra-competitive Topham Chase. This looks an ideal course for his return to action and the Henderson camp are quietly confident he is forward and fit enough to do himself justice.
Charli Parcs, yet another of Henderson's potential stars this season, has been working very well in his pre-season build up and is fancied to go well in the Ladbrokes Intermediate Hurdle, but Mount Mews also looked a very good prospect last season and is given a narrow vote. He will be sharper for his promising run in the Scottish Champion Hurdle Trial at Ayr four weeks ago and that preliminary run may just give him the edge over his Lambourn rival.
Air Horse One should appreciate the step up to two and a half miles and looks worth an interest in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle. Harry Fry's six-year-old ran to a high level in novice and handicaps last season and began the new campaign with an eye-catching effort behind Elgin in a competitive handicap over two miles at Ascot four weeks ago. The form of that race looks very solid and Air Horse One has pleased connections since.
Buveur D'Air, Henderson's Champion Hurdler and a work partner of Charli Parcs, will be at very short odds in the Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, even though he will just be in need of the race, but his travelling companion up the A1, Beware The Bear, could represent some value in the At The Races Rehearsal Handicap Chase.
A much more resolute stayer than Whisper or Might Bite, he lacks their class, but does stay very well and should be capable of adding a valuable prize or two to his excellent first season over fences. Not lacking in size or scope, connections believe he can improve further and he looks worth a speculative wager on a course which should help his attacking style.
Warren Greatrex will be hoping to continue his good run of form to help him overcome the mishap on Thursday when his stationary car was struck into by a horsebox and Don't Ask should do the trick in the Corbetts Malpas Horse Feed Supplies National Hunt Novices Hurdle at Bangor. There was plenty to like about his comeback effort in what looked a decent bumper at Newbury last month and he does not look too highly tried for his debut effort over hurdles.
The Uplands trainer also has a chance with Chase D Titans in the closing bumper, but preference is just for Stylish Moment. He has worked very well since his debut third on this course last month and Alan King rates him highly.
King is also in action at Doncaster and is looking for a big run from Deyrann de Carjac in the opening Betfred Mobile British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. This looks a fairly tough first look at timber for the four-year-old but he is another highly rated member of the Barbury Castle younger brigade and he could surprise one or two of his more experienced rivals.
Swiss Knight should go well on his debut in the 32Red.com EBF Novice Stakes (division two) at Wolverhampton on Saturday night. Charlie Appleby, who also has chances with Native Appeal in the other division, will be hoping this son of high-class sprinters Oasis Dream and Swiss Diva can make an impact from his low number draw over this relatively easy seven furlongs.
What should be a healthy crowd at Plumpton on Monday is expected to be boosted by around 50 members from a Champions Club run by a prominent bookmaker. They will be on hand to cheer home the Colin Tizzard-trained Battle Of Ideas in the opening Maiden Hurdle, and, from all accounts, there appears to be a strong chance that the enthusiastic use of their vocal chords will not be in vain.
