Timeform Weekend Preview: Nicholl's chases fourth consecutive Tolworth Hurdle win

Weekend Preview / Timeform / 02 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Weather permitting this weekend features some competitive action, including the Tolworth Hurdle, says Timeform.

Frost has played havoc with jump racing fixtures over the past few days and Saturday's feature jumps racing at Sandown is another meeting under threat, though course officials sounded cautiously optimistic on Thursday. Should racing go ahead, spectators will have the chance to see some competitive action on a card which hosts the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, won in the past by the likes of Monsignor, Silverburn and Breedsbreeze.

This year's renewal sees Paul Nicholls attempting to win the race for a fourth consecutive time with his entrant Mahonia. He is opposed by Henrietta Knight's Somersby and Nick Gifford's Dee Ee Williams, whilst in-form trainer Nicky Henderson saddles recent course winner Clay Hollister.

The opening race on the card, a listed mares hurdle, sees Pam Sly's Circus Rose bidding for her third success in a row, having previously scored at Fakenham and Huntingdon. She showed fairly useful form when beating Tot Of The Knar by three lengths for her latest success, but faces strong competition here from United, Acordello and Blaeberry.

In the following race, a novice hurdle, Nick Gifford's Helium bids to extend his unbeaten record in Britain but faces opposition from Venetia Williams' recent Hereford winner Stow and Gary Moore's Psi, who finished fifth behind Triumph Hurdle favourite Zaynar on his debut at Newbury.

The most competitive race on the card looks to be the concluding Blue Square Poker Handicap Hurdle, in which seventeen are set to go to post, including Prince Taime, Night Cru and Wingman.

Over at Wincanton, Philip Hobbs' Massini's Maguire bids to go one better than when second to Breedsbreeze in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day , and is opposed by another Paul Nicholls runner in Oracle Des Mottes. Nicholls also fields Inchidaly Rock in the handicap hurdle at his local course, in which Brendan Powell's lightly raced Money Order will be looking to register his fourth victory from just five starts.

On the all-weather, the race to concentrate on looks to be the 3.25 at Lingfield, in which Millville bids for back to back wins following his success twelve months ago. He faces opposition from Young Mick, Pevensey and Group Captain.

At Naas on Sunday Made In Taipan, Jayo and Chiraaz all clash in the 1.15 Novice Chase whilst the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle half an hour later gives racegoers the opportunity to see Willie Mullins' promising Mikael D'Haguenet in action.

Back in Britain Plumpton stages its first meeting of 2009, the highlight of which is undoubtedly the 2.25 Sussex National Chase worth over £15,000 to the winner in which 15 runners go to post.