Trainer Nicky Richards is content for Turpin Green to remain the forgotten horse ahead of his seasonal bow in the £200,000 Grade One Betfair Chase (2.05pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday, November 24, day one of the Northwest Racing Masters.
Turpin Green, a 40/1 shot when third behind reigning champion Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March, is set for a rematch with those rivals in a fantastic renewal of the Betfair Chase.
Richards revealed today: “Turpin Green is in fine form after a good summer during which he had a nice break. He’s back in good work and is grand.
“We are the forgotten men, so Mr Hemmings (owner) and myself will just do our own thing and we will be okay.”
Turpin Green will be looking to repeat his first time out effort last season, when he was successful in a Carlisle graduation chase, with Exotic Dancer 28 lengths in arrears.
The talented Trevor Hemmings-owned eight-year-old subsequently finished second on heavy ground in the Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase over the Betfair Chase course and distance in January, prior to his totesport Gold Cup effort, before ending the season with a below-par run in Aintree’s Grade Two John Smith’s Bowl.
“He was over the top at Aintree,” continued the Greystoke handler.
“He is a lovely sweet-actioned horse who handles all types of ground but he is probably better on a little bit better ground, I would have to say.
“We will run him whatever the ground. The Betfair Chase has been his target and he will run anyway.”
As well as last season’s Betfair Chase winner Kauto Star, trained by Paul Nicholls, and the Jonjo O’Neill-trained John Smith’s Bowl hero Exotic Dancer, Turpin Green could face last season’s top-rated three-mile novice chaser Denman and the Alan King-trained Grade One Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor My Way De Solzen.
The Michael Hourigan-trained Beef Or Salmon has finished runner-up in the last two runnings and is set to line up again, while trainer Ferdy Murphy could saddle high-class second season chaser Aces Four.
Kauto Star continues to hover at above even money for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, and is currently on offer at 6-5 on the exchange.
Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "Betting continues to be light at this stage, though a big recent market negative is Aces Four, who has drifted to 17-1 from 9-1 yesterday afternoon.
"The major betting positive of the race is Turpin Green. He opened up at 94-1 and is now into 17-1, albeit to small sums, suggesting to me that the Gold Cup third is again fit and fancied first time up. He has won on his reappearance each time, would love soft ground, and of course his owner likes nothing better than a winner at Haydock."
To win the Betfair Chase – Betfair bet: 6-5 Kauto Star, 3-1 My Way De Solzen, 17-2 Exotic Dancer, 17-1 Aces Four, Turpin Green, 24-1 Beef Or Salmon, 26-1 Denman, 31-1 Ollie Magern, 45-1 Offshore Account, 59-1 Taranis, 229-1 Madison Du Berlais, 259-1 Monkerhostin, 349-1 Yes Sir, 379-1 Too Forward
Evan Williams is hoping to run the consistent Desert Tommy in the highly-competitive £100,000 Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle (1.35pm), over an extended two miles and seven furlongs at Haydock Park on Saturday, November 24.
The Welsh trainer revealed today: “We are definitely looking at running Desert Tommy in the Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle. He has run very well at Haydock in the past.”
Desert Tommy was runner-up to Huka Lodge over the course and distance on heavy ground in January prior to finishing an admirable sixth to Oscar Park in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March.
Williams continued: “His effort in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham was a great run. He is a funny little fellow and we tried him over fences but he didn’t seem to enjoy that.
“So long as we get plenty of rain he will definitely go to Haydock on Saturday. He wants it very soft. You could not get ground too soft for him so the more rain the better for him.”
The valuable Betfair “Fixed Brush” Handicap Hurdle was won last year by the Alan King-trained Halcon Genelardais, who went on to victory in the Grade Three Coral Welsh National at Chepstow in December, 2006, and is again entered.
Also among the 45 entries are the Francois Doumen-trained Millenium Royal, a course and distance winner last term, Coral Cup victor Burntoakboy, as well as Grade Two Spa Hurdle first and second Wichita Lineman and Air Force One.
Chrysander could line up in the £30,000 Listed Betfair Poker Newton Novices’ Hurdle over two miles (12.30pm), the opening race on Saturday.
The gelding finished a close-up fourth in a Group Two at Maisons-Laffitte as a three-year-old for former trainer Mick Channon and Williams hopes he has rekindled some of that sparkle over obstacles after the five-year-old’s success in a two-mile novice hurdle at Ludlow on November 15.
The trainer said: “Chrysander is entered in the Listed Betfair Poker Newton Novices’ Hurdle as he has been a little bit of a revelation.
“I was slightly disappointed with his first run for us at Uttoxeter earlier in the month and wondered whether he might have a wind problem, but then he went and had a confidence booster at Ludlow.
“He made a little bit of a noise after that win but a flat track seems to suit him and his confidence is pretty high, so the race is definitely something we will look at. If I am happy with his work in the morning then we would look to go to Haydock with him.
“He’s got more problems than you could list. I only paid 8,500 guineas for him and he is one of those horses that, if we get through his problems, could get back to quite a high level over hurdles. As we saw at Ludlow last time, when he does get it together, he has a bit of ability.”
Williams is eyeing two possible targets at Haydock for promising chaser High Chimes, who trounced the opposition in a Chepstow beginners’ chase in May.
The Vale Of Glamorgan handler added: “High Chimes is a real smashing type of horse. We waited for the ground and I could see him going to Haydock for either the three-mile Betting As It Should Be Handicap Chase (2.35pm) or the two-mile Betfair Casino Zero Lounge Handicap Chase (3.10pm).”
The going at Haydock Park remains GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES.
HOGARTH HOPES KILLONE CAN BE KING IN totesport.com BECHER CHASE
Trainer Harry Hogarth is looking forward to a good performance from King Killone in the £100,000 totesport.com Becher Chase, run over the world famous Grand National fences and the highlight of Aintree’s card on Sunday, November 25, the second day of the Northwest Racing Masters.
The Stillington-based handler was pleased with the seven-year-old’s seasonal debut, his first appearance since December, 2006, at Carlisle on November 4, when he finished seventh behind Naunton Brook in a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles.
Hogarth reported today: “King Killone seems in good form, and he ran a good race at Carlisle as a start for the season.
“He had a little bit of a ligament strain after running in the Rowland Merrick Chase at Wetherby in December, so he couldn’t run again last season.
“He’s an excellent jumper, and that was one of the reasons we thought we would have a go at the totesport.com Becher Chase. He’s got a good record at Wetherby, and if you can jump round those fences, they reckon you can jump round anywhere.
“The horse is rated 133 over fences, so I think that would see him run off a nice light weight, and he’s got the profile to run well. He deserves to have a go at the totesport.com Becher Chase by being such a good jumper and we are hopeful of a good run.
“The rain will help him, and it will slow some of the speed merchants down. He’ll stay the trip well and I would be happy with good to soft ground.
“He schooled well this morning, and unless anything unforeseen happens, I hope he’ll run well on Sunday.”
King Killone, currently a 14/1 chance with race sponsors totesport, has won three times for Hogarth and finished eighth as a six-year-old behind Run For Paddy in the 2006 Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
LATEST totesport ODDS FOR THE totesport.com BECHER CHASE
7 LEADING MAN
8 BEWLEYS BERRY
10 DUNBRODY MILLAR
10 I HEAR THUNDER
10 MR POINTMENT
12 KANDJAR D'ALLIER
14 A NEW STORY
14 AKA JAKE
14 ALRIGHT NOW M'LAD
14 IRISH RAPTOR
14 KING KILLONE
14 LE DUC
16 BRIERY FOX
16 GARVIVONNIAN
16 PAK JACK
16 PARKINSON
16 ROYAL AUCLAIR
20 BANNISTER LANE
20 IRON MAN
20 SILVER JACK
20 THE OUTLIER
25 FINZI
25 LANKAWI
33 BALLYCASSIDY
33 TOMMY SPAR
50 HIGH COTTON
50 SYBELLIUS D'ARTAIX
100 BLACK SMOKE
EACH WAY 1/4 THE ODDS A PLACE 1-2-3-4. ALL QUOTED. ANTEPOST RULES APPLY.
SPECIAL BET: 20/1 any horse to win the totesport.com Becher Chase and go on to win the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National.
The going at Aintree remains GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES on the Grand National Course and GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES on the Mildmay Course.
UB40 CONFIRMED FOR NEWMARKET NIGHTS 2008
Newmarket Racecourses is pleased to announce that UB40 are the first act to be confirmed for the 2008 Newmarket Nights with Q103. UB40 will perform on the third Newmarket Night on Friday, July 18, 2008.
For well over 25 years, UB40 have entertained audiences with their unique, reggae music. During this time the band has had huge worldwide success with three UK number one singles (“Red, Red Wine”, “I Got You Babe and “Can’t Help Falling In Love”) and two UK number One albums (“Labour Of Love” and “Promises and Lies”). In 2003, UB40 received an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement in recognition of their commitment to music.
Stephen Wallis, Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses, said: “We are thrilled that UB40 will be performing at our 2008 Newmarket Nights. The group played at Epsom Live! in 2006 and Sandown Park in 2007, and were hugely popular and fun on both occasions. I am sure they will be a great success here at Newmarket.”
The multi-cultural band is made up of eight members; James Brown (drums), Ali Campbell (vocals/guitar), Robin Campbell (guitar/vocals), Earl Falconer (bass/vocals), Norman Hassan (percussion/vocals), Brian Travers (saxophone/horn arrangements), Michael Virtue (keyboards) and Astro (vocals/trumpet). Famously, the group named themselves after the Unemployment Benefit Form 40.
There are a limited number of child admissions priced at £10 each. Once the limited number of child admissions has been sold, children will be charged at the full adult rate.
Tickets are now on sale and all adult tickets for the Premier or Grandstand & Paddock enclosure will be subject to a 5% discount when booked online at www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk. Tickets can also be booked by calling 01638 675 500.
Newmarket Nights 2008 dates
Friday 20th June – artist TBC
Friday 27th June – artist TBC
Friday 18th July – UB40
Friday 25th July – artist TBC
Friday 1st August – artist TBC
Friday 8th August – artist TBC
Friday 15th August – artist TBC
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