Olympic hero Skelton to make guest appearance as racing returns to Warwick

AFTER a month’s break, racing returns at Warwick on Friday when Olympic champion Nick Skelton is the special guest at the course’s Business Networking Raceday, writes David Hucker.

Highlight of the afternoon’s racing is the £10,000 Lewis Badges 1832 Novices´ Chase, won last year by Willow’s Saviour, trained and ridden by Skelton’s sons Dan and Harry. The combination could come out on top again with Blue Heron, who was rated at 155 over hurdles and returned after a long lay-off at Market Rasen last month.

Towcester winner Pinkie Brown fell at the third fence at Cheltenham, but would come into contention here and Imperial Presence, who was just caught by hot favourite Old Guard at Exeter two weeks ago, could also go close if brushing up his jumping.

The networking event starts at 11.45am, finishing in time for the first of the seven races, the Willmott Dixon Supply Chain Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, which gets underway at 12.50pm. The two-mile contest has attracted 15 entries, with Ahraam probably having the best form of those which have run over jumps.

Trainer Harry Whittington is hoping that Ahraam will improve on his two runs to date after a recent wind operation, but it may pay to go with one of the newcomers and Tyrell, a winner over two miles on the Flat at Nottingham in July, could make a successful debut for trainer Alan King.

Next up is the Willmott Dixon Supply Chain Novices´ Hurdle over three and a quarter miles, in which Silvergrove, who ran off a handicap rating of 138 over this distance in an amateur riders chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, catches the eye.

Another who could be reverting to hurdles is Forever My Friend, but he has alternative engagements at Newbury and Musselburgh today, so it will be interesting to see which race trainer Peter Bowen opts for.

Kempton winner Linguine would have to give weight to his rivals and, although Bells On Sunday won a point-to-point over three miles, this is a step up in trip from her hurdles debut at Chepstow.

The Willmott Dixon Supply Chain Handicap Hurdle looks like being a competitive affair and, amongst the 26 entries is the popular Dormouse, trained at Wilmcote by Anabel Murphy, who has won three times over the course and would be starting his 67 race.

Newton Abbot winner Coeur Tantre, who unseated Dave Crosse at the third flight on his last run at Wincanton, looks plenty high enough in the weights, as does Beau Du Brizais, who would be making his handicap debut.

Longest chase of the afternoon is the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Conditional Jockeys´ Handicap Chase (Challenger Series Qualifier) over a trip of nearly three and a quarter miles and it could see the return of another course winner in Cheat The Cheater, although he is rated 5lb higher than for his victory here in February and may struggle at the weights, a comment that also applies to Exeter scorer Barton Gift.

Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis suffered a dip in fortunes last season with 24 winners at a strike rate of just 12%, but she is already well on the way to passing that total this campaign, with Irish Cavalier becoming her 15 success when landing the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

She could add to her tally with Globalisation, who ran with promise at Aintree and whose handicap mark has dropped to 114, just below that of his last success a year ago.

Ballydague Lady had entries at Stratford last week and at Hereford on Monday, but would be worth a look if trainer Neil Mulholland declares her for the Willmott Dixon Supply Chain Handicap Chase.

Although carrying the smallest prize fund of the afternoon, the closing Willmott Dixon George Mernagh Memorial Mares´ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race has attracted the largest entry with trainers Warren Greatrex, Alan King, Fergal O’Brien and Nigel Twiston-Davies all being doubly-represented.