Wednesday, November 7, 2007

HERON SET TO FLY IN totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP

The three-year-old colt was eighth behind subsequent Ladbrokes St Leger winner Lucarno on his latest start in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 21.

The veteran handler is hopeful of a good run from the progressive three-year-old Hernando colt, who is currently set to carry 9st 1lb in the 12-furlong contest and is rated a 16/1 chance by totesport.

Wragg revealed today: “Heron Bay will run in the totesport.com November Handicap and Steve Drowne will ride him.

“I’m looking forward to a good run on Saturday, and he’s highly rated. The horse is in good form and I’m pleased with him.

“I hope he’ll return to Group races next year.”

On his only appearance in handicap company, Heron Bay rallied gamely to beat Filios by
a head in the valuable King George V Stakes, also run over 12 furlongs, at Royal Ascot on June 21.

Although Wragg has yet to win the totesport.com November Handicap, his father Harry won the famous contest at Doncaster as a trainer in 1970 with Sexton and at its former home, Manchester, as a jockey on Las Vegas (1946) - the final victory of his riding career.

After purchasing La Estrella for 32,000 guineas at Tattersalls last week, fellow Newmarket trainer Don Cantillon hopes that the four-year-old gelding can repay some of that outlay with a good showing in the totesport.com November Handicap.

Cantillon bought the son of Theatrical primarily to go hurdling, but decided to run the gelding, currently allotted 8st and 25/1 with totesport, in the finale of the Flat season after speaking to his former trainer, James Given.

The handler explained: “La Estrella seems to be a natural over hurdles, but James Given suggested that if he had kept the horse, he would have run him in the totesport.com November Handicap.

“He had a little work out over six furlongs this morning, and he did that nicely.

“Chris Catlin will ride him at Doncaster on Saturday and I’m looking forward to a nice day out with no real expectations. He’s healthy, well and happy, and I’m delighted with him.”

La Estrella won on his latest start in a 12-furlong handicap on Polytrack at Wolverhampton on October 21 and won on turf over the same distance at Pontefract earlier this season. The four-year-old finished down the field behind Juniper Girl in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate in June, when he appeared not to last home over two miles on heavy ground.

LATEST totesport ODDS FOR THE totesport.com NOVEMBER HANDICAP
13/2 Pippa Greene, 8/1 Black Rock, 8/1 Heaven Knows, 8/1 Malt Or Mash , 10/1 Minkowski, 11/1 Cutting Crew, 11/1 Sanbuch, 12/1 Greek Envoy, 12/1 Harry Tricker, 12/1 New Guinea, 12/1 St Savarin, 12/1 Tropical Strait, 16/1 Akarem, 16/1 Bandama, 16/1 Heron Bay, 16/1 Oh Glory Be, 16/1 Rampallion, 20/1 Lake Toya, 20/1 Lundys Lane, 20/1 Night Crescendo, 20/1 Philanthropy, 20/1 Young Mick, 25/1 Chocolate Caramel, 25/1 Dzesmin, 25/1 Esthlos, 25/1 Gabier, 25/1 Inchloch, 25/1 John Terry, 25/1 La Estrella, 25/1 Prairie Tiger, 25/1 Realism, 33/1 Dollar Chick, 33/1 Kings Quay, 33/1 Music Review, 33/1 Turn Of Phrase, 33/1 Wingman, 40/1 Mighty Moon, 50/1 Chicken Soup, 50/1 Happy As Larry, 66/1 Bazart, 66/1 Spume

Each-Way: 1/4 Places at 1, 2, 3, 4

Maljimar has been allotted 9st 2lb and Kings Brook 10st 6lb in the extended two and a half mile handicap chase, which is the centrepiece of The Open which runs from Friday, November 16, to Sunday, November 18.

Maljimar was runner-up to fellow Paddy Power Gold Cup possible Knowhere (11st 1lb) in the Pyments Quantity Surveyors Handicap Chase over the course and distance on October 20, while Kings Brook has landed two of his last four starts, most recently the totesport.com Handicap Chase at Stratford on October 27.

Williams revealed today: "Maljimar would be a more obvious one for the race because, unlike Kings Brook, he hasn’t been on the go for seven months. He is a possible, providing enough horses come out at the top for him to get into the handicap.

"He is fine after his recent Cheltenham run. There is no real reason why Knowhere would not beat him again but there would not be much between them if we were to get into the handicap.

"Good to soft or soft ground would be perfect for Maljimar but it would have to be very fast going if Kings Brook were to run, so he is a possible if the ground were right.

"Kings Brook has won two out of his last four, which is not bad, but I don’t know whether the Paddy Power Gold Cup would be a step too far as he has not faced that quality of opposition.


"It is a tall order for him, whatever the going. I have done the entry to keep my options open, and if you don’t enter you can’t run!"


The Paul Nicholls-trained Taranis, winner of the Grade One James Nicholson Wine Merchants Chase at Down Royal on Saturday, November 3, has been allotted top-weight of 11st 12lb, the same weight he carried when falling two fences from home in the 2006 Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The Henry Daly-trained Billyvoddan, third in the Grade Two Ryanair Chase at The Festival, is next in the weights with 11st 9lb, while the Francois Doumen-trained L’Ami has 11st 8lb.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Granit Jack, last seen when runner-up in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival and a winning chaser in France, is the current 4/1 market leader with sponsors Paddy Power and has been allotted 9st 11lb.

The well-fancied Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push It, a smart novice chaser last term and winner of the sportingindex.com/racing Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 27, has 10st 13lb, while stablemate Bob Hall has been given 10st 7lb.

L’Antartique, trained by Ferdy Murphy, won the Listed Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival and has 10st 7lb, while the same trainer’s Another Promise, fifth in The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at The Festival and a Grade One winner at Punchestown, has been allotted 11st, New Alco has 10st 4lb and Three Mirrors has 9st 11lb.

Pablo Du Charmil’s (10st 6lb) odds for the Paddy Power Gold Cup have shortened to 12/1 from 20/1 with the sponsor after his success in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Tuesday.


Donald McCain is considering his options with regards to 33/1 shot Regal Heights, who has been allotted 10st 6lb in the Paddy Power Gold Cup but could contest the £50,000 paddypower.com Handicap Chase over two miles on Sunday, November 18.

The six-year-old was a good novice last term, winning three times on soft and heavy going before winding up his campaign when fourth to One Cool Cookie in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in April.

McCain revealed today: "Nothing is set in stone at present. Regal Heights is a possible for the Paddy Power Gold Cup but he is also in the two-mile handicap the day after. It would be ground dependent and so on.


"I won’t make a final decision until I have seen the entries for the paddypower.com Handicap Chase, so I am quite open and obviously if it was very soft ground we would probably go for the two-mile option.

"He has done really well through the summer, probably a bit too well as it has taken a while to get him ready and he will come on for his first run, but it’s a long winter and we are looking forward to it.

"I think perhaps I should have been braver and gone to The Festival with him last season. I thought we should have beaten L’Antartique at Bangor but he was a bit short, and then L’Antartique went and won at Cheltenham. We waited for Ireland and I think the Irish race was suitable but the ground turned much too quick for him.

"He is a useful horse and, if he keeps progressing, I think he could be very decent indeed."


Latest Paddy Power odds:

Granit Jack 4/1

Don't Push It 5/1

L'Antartique 7/1

Abragante 9/1

Bob Hall 10/1

Knowhere 10/1

Copsale Lad 10/1

Another Promise 12/1

Private Be 12/1

Pablo Du Charmil 12/1

Crozan 14/1

New Little Bric 14/1

Vodka Bleu 14/1

Fair Along 16/1

Turko 16/1

Faasel 16/1

Idole First 16/1

Limited Edition 16/1

Madison Du Berlais 16/1

Maljimar 16/1

Royal County Star 16/1

Too Forward 16/1

Ungaro 16/1

Watson Lake 16/1

Whispered Secret 16/1

Billyvoddan 20/1

French Accordion 20/1

Kings Brook 20/1

Knight Legend 20/1

New Alco 20/1

Newman Des Plages 20/1

Palarshan 20/1

Patman Du Charmil 20/1

Ardaghey 25/1

Bambi De L'Orme 25/1

Bishop's Bridge 25/1

Father Matt 25/1

Fier Normand 25/1

Forget The Past 25/1

Hasty Prince 25/1

L'Ami 25/1

Le Volfoni 25/1

Lord Ryeford 25/1

Ponmeoath 25/1

Roman Ark 25/1

Black Hills 33/1

Donovan 33/1

Heltornic 33/1

Il Duce 33/1

Magic Sky 33/1

Mister McGoldrick 33/1

Mr Boo 33/1

Regal Heights 33/1

Three Mirrors 33/1

Yaboya 33/1

Bible Lord 40/1

Arteea 50/1

Ballyagran 50/1

Big Rob 50/1

The Reverend 50/1

The Roney Man 66/1


The Paul Nicholls-trained Desert Quest, winner of the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at the 2006 Festival, has been allotted top-weight of 11st 12lb in the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 18.

Nicholls is also represented by Twist Magic (9st 7lb), a Grade One winner over fences at Aintree last season who was still in contention when falling two out in The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at The Festival and recent Chepstow scorer Gwanako (10st 13lb)


Gaspara, who captured the notable double of the Sunderlands Imperial Cup and Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in March for trainer David Pipe, is next in the handicap with 11st 4lb, followed by Guinness Galway Hurdle victor Farmer Brown on 11st 1lb.

The Charlie Mann-trained Kanad, a recent winner at Ascot, has 9st 10lb.

THE PADDY POWER GOLD CUP

Class 1, Grade 3, £120,000 Total Prize Fund, 2.40pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, November 17, 2007. For 4yo+, two miles, four and a half furlongs. Penalties, after November 3, a winner of a Class 3 chase 3lb; of a Class 1 or 2 chase 6lb; no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 31; entries released November 1 (62 entries), weights revealed November 7. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Monday, November 5, 2007. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer

F3112-1 TARANIS (FR) 6-11-12 Mrs A B Yeoman & C R Whittaker Paul Nicholls

0U/513P- BILLYVODDAN (IRE) 8-11-09 Trevor Hemmings Henry Daly

34200-6 L'AMI (FR) 8-11-08 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR

441P40- WATSON LAKE (IRE) 9-11-07 John Corr Noel Meade IRE

-114030 FORGET THE PAST 9-11-05 Sean Mulryan Michael O'Brien IRE

-111202 FAIR ALONG (GER) 5-11-04 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs

2/10102- TOO FORWARD (IRE) 11-1103 T L Gibson & D Mathias Carl Llewellyn

11166-3 UNGARO (FR) 8-11-02 Sir Robert Ogden Keith Reveley

53103-4 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 6-11-01 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe

2300U-1 KNOWHERE (IRE) 9-11-01 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies

1210P-P TURKO (FR) 5-11-00 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls

51422-2 FAASEL (IRE) 6-11-00 Jim Ennis Nicky Richards

PP/2PF4- CROZAN (FR) 7-11-00 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson

F21151- ANOTHER PROMISE (IRE) 8-11-00 Geoff Hubbard Racing Ferdy Murphy

211F5-1 DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) 7-10-13 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

2-1021B KNIGHT LEGEND (IRE) 8-10-11 Lynn Wilson Jessica Harrington IRE

3646-U5 LE VOLFONI (FR) 6-10-11 Aaron Banks Paul Nicholls

4600-01 MISTER MCGOLDRICK 10-10-11 Richard Longley Sue Smith

06/1341- IDOLE FIRST (IRE) 8-10-09 D and J Racing Ltd Venetia Williams

1/13110- NEW LITTLE BRIC (FR) 6-10-08 Kathy Stuart Paul Nicholls

-525220 HASTY PRINCE 9-10-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

12122U/- FATHER MATT (IRE) 9-10-07 Mrs Phonsie O'Brien Noel Meade IRE

1F21U-1 L'ANTARTIQUE (FR) 7-10-07 Mrs A N Durkan Ferdy Murphy

1PF23-1 IL DUCE (IRE) 7-10-07 Mrs Peter Prowting Alan King

31522-3 BOB HALL (IRE) 6-10-07 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

1P062-1 ARDAGHEY (IRE) 8-10-06 D J & S A Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies

06-P101 KINGS BROOK 7-10-06 Tony Gale Nick Williams

U0/1110- PABLO DU CHARMIL (FR) 6-10-06 Joe Moran David Pipe

-212114 REGAL HEIGHTS (IRE) 6-10-06 Janet Heler Donald McCain Jnr

450-614 PONMEOATH (IRE) 7-10-05 Jolly Up Syndicate Eric McNamara IRE

41206/3- ARTEEA (IRE) 8-10-05 M O'Flaherty Michael Hourigan IRE

30511-4 BAMBI DE L'ORME (FR) 8-10-04 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Ian Williams

-232260 NEW ALCO (FR) 6-10-04 D McGowan & S Murphy Ferdy Murphy

3/PP105- COPSALE LAD 10-10-03 Swallow Partnership Nicky Henderson

0-60111 FRENCH ACCORDION (IRE) 7-10-03 Padraig Brady Paul Nolan IRE

20131-B PRIVATE BE 8-10-03 David and Daphne Walsh Philip Hobbs

335-000 MAGIC SKY (FR) 7-10-02 thehorseracingclubcom partnership Milton Harris

5036P//2- PALARSHAN (FR) 9-10-02 Sumner Wellesley Henry Daly

-311400 ROMAN ARK 9-10-02 Richard Collins Malcolm Jefferson

1/114P0- NEWMAN DES PLAGES (FR) 6-10-02 Sir Robert Ogden Jonjo O'Neill

12221-0 BLACK HILLS 8-10-01 The Kingfisher Partnership Jonathan Geake

32011F- HELTORNIC (IRE) 7-10-00 Stephen W Molloy Michael Scudamore

114-230 BALLYAGRAN (IRE) 7-10-00 Kevin C O'Sullivan Noel Meade IRE

1PP-113 PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 5-9-13 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies

21131-4 THREE MIRRORS 7-9-13 Sean Murphy Ferdy Murphy

2P0400- VODKA BLEU (FR) 8-9-13 David Johnson David Pipe

14//P11F- LIMITED EDITION (IRE) 9-9-13 Malcolm Denmark Carl Llewellyn

-504312 WHISPERED SECRET (GER) 8-9-11 David Manasseh David Pipe

11/3212- GRANIT JACK (FR) 5-9-11 John Hales Paul Nicholls

20P22-1 MR BOO (IRE) 8-9-10 The Hon Mrs C Cameron Gary Moore

16/1-3F2 FIER NORMAND (FR) 8-9-10 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

-60211 BIBLE LORD (IRE) 6-9-09 M Tedham Andrew Turnell

P4-1114 LORD RYEFORD (IRE) 7-9-07 Five Valleys Racing Partnership Tom George

11122-5 BISHOP'S BRIDGE (IRE) 9-9-07 S Kimber Emma Lavelle

00211-U ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE) 8-9-06 Dunsany Racing Syndicate Tony Martin IRE

12341-1 ABRAGANTE (IRE) 6-9-03 David Johnson David Pipe

213/1FP- YABOYA (IRE) 8-9-03 J P McManus Philip Hobbs

F2313-2 MALJIMAR (IRE) 7-9-02 Jane Williams Nick Williams

-213240 THE REVEREND (IRE) 7-9-01 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

-164 THE RONEY MAN 7-8-13 Mrs M Ross Tony Martin IRE

611112 DONOVAN (NZ) 8-8-09 George Hibbert & Jayne Greenwood Richard Guest

4-P6032 BIG ROB (IRE) 8-8-07 Pat Betts Brendan Powell

62 Entries

10 Irish-trained

1 French-trained



THE GREATWOOD HURDLE

Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.55pm, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 18, 2007. For 4yo+, two miles and a half a furlong. Penalties, after November 3, a winner of a Class 1 to 3 hurdle race 6lb; no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 31; entries released November 1 (58 entries), weights revealed. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Monday, November 5, 2007. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer

0/12030- DESERT QUEST (IRE) 7-11-12 Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls

11112-2 GASPARA (FR) 4-11-04 P McMahon David Pipe

F3-1112 FARMER BROWN (IRE) 6-11-01 Plantation Stud Pat Hughes IRE

11111-1 GWANAKO (FR) 4-10-13 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls

112U3F- CATCH ME (GER) 5-10-13 J P O'Shea Edward O'Grady IRE

31232-3 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE (FR) 8-10-11 John Webb Steve Gollings

225-020 LIBERATE 4-10-11 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

601F-60 SPECIAL ENVOY (FR) 5-10-10 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Peter Bowen

11103-2 DEGAS ART (IRE) 4-10-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

2F4-114 ZILCASH 4-10-10 David Bellamy & Stephen Williams Alan King

-124102 OSANA (FR) 5-10-09 Thomas Barr David Pipe

16/1121- CLOPF (IRE) 6-10-08 Bernard Anthony Heffernan Edward O'Grady IRE

32232-0 OUNINPOHJA (IRE) 6-10-07 Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls

31550-1 ALBANOV (IRE) 7-10-05 Ronnie Scott Four Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE

31131//0- MEPHISTO (IRE) 8-10-05 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson

61214-3 ALTILHAR (USA) 4-10-03 H R Hunt Gary Moore

11351-F SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 5-10-03 Alan Potts Henry de Bromhead IRE

-311010 ORBIT O'GOLD (USA) 5-10-03 Mighty Macs Syndicate Noel Meade IRE

163151/- CHIARO (FR) 5-10-01 Andrew Cohen Philip Hobbs

2021-20 FRENCH SAULAIE (FR) 6-10-01 Carol Skan Philip Hobbs

-142131 LAUSTRA BAD (FR) 4-10-01 Sarah Ling David Pipe

4/21511- HERON'S FLIGHT (IRE) 5-10-01 All Four One Syndicate Noel Meade IRE

0465-00 CARACCIOLA (GER) 10-10-01 Piers Pottinger Nicky Henderson

F121-2 LEAD ON (IRE) 6-10-01 B K Peppiatt Philip Hobbs

0/0P-110 LEG SPINNER (IRE) 6-10-01 Billy Moffett Tony Martin IRE

50/1200- TARLAC (GER) 6-10-00 J P McManus Nicky Henderson

1131P- TRITONIX (IRE) 4-10-00 J P McManus Philip Hobbs

-31361 POQUELIN (FR) 4-10-00 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls

-12430 TROUBLE AT BAY (IRE) 7-10-00 Nigel Bunter Alan King

00201-0 HEATHCOTE 5-9-13 B Siddle & B D Haynes Gary Moore

30261-1 KINGS QUAY 5-9-13 Marie Taylor John Quinn

U4U121- DEMPSEY (IRE) 9-9-12 Tracy Brown Carl Llewellyn

10/1306- VICTRAM (IRE) 7-9-12 Pinheads Pizza Syndicate Adrian McGuinness IRE

1P- MOUNTAIN (IRE) 4-9-12 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill

4030//0-0 CHIVALRY 8-9-12 Paul Beck Venetia Williams

5-22021 MILL HOUSE GIRL (IRE) 6-9-11 Charles Harte Shane Donohoe IRE

211F- PEVENSEY (IRE) 5-9-11 Dum Spiro Spero John Quinn

55110-5 AMOUR MULTIPLE (IRE) 8-9-11 S A Young Shaun Lycett

111/F/-5S CLOONE RIVER (IRE) 11-9-10 Mrs K Gillane Charlie Swan IRE

12P1-11 KANAD 5-9-10 P M Warren Charlie Mann

22103-2 POUVOIR (FR) 4-9-10 Bob & Pauline Scott Alan King

221113 PIGEON ISLAND 4-9-10 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies

3000-21 THE SPOONPLAYER (IRE) 8-9-09 Band Syndicate Henry de Bromhead IRE

B-32040 ORPEN WIDE (IRE) 5-9-08 Andy & Bev Wright Michael Chapman

352-112 PLATIN GROUNDS (GER) 5-9-07 D J & S A Goodman Nigel Twiston-Davies

4432/12- RUSTARIX (FR) 6-9-07 Carol Skan Alan King

3P/12F1- TWIST MAGIC (FR) 5-9-07 Barry Fulton, Tony Hayward, Michael Lynch Paul Nicholls

111236 OSPREY VIEW (IRE) 4-9-06 The Galloping Punters Nigel Twiston-Davies

4512-12 INGRATITUDE (IRE) 4-9-05 Club ISM & JSC Sport Nicky Henderson

-110 MANHATTAN BOY (GER) 5-9-05 Big Apples Philip Hobbs

141P0- BUSTER HYVONEN (IRE) 5-9-04 Simon Gibson James Fanshawe

45131-0 WIZARD OF US 7-9-04 P Currey Mick Mullineaux

13003-0 LOUP DU SAUBOUAS (FR) 4-9-03 C Kearney Noel Meade IRE

10-22 BOULAVOGUE (IRE) 4-9-00 N O'Flaherty Charlie Swan IRE

60-1116 ATTICUS BOY (USA) 6-9-00 Iain Herity John Wade

3111-00 GABIER 4-9-00 B Siddle & B D Haynes Gary Moore

44F111- NIKE WALKER (FR) 4-8-07 Pipe Monkees David Pipe



57 entries go forward

14 Irish-trained

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