Penzance bids for Kingwell glory
Penzance, a leading fancy for the abandoned totesport Trophy last weekend, will attempt to get his season back on track in the Grade Two Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton tomorrow.
The leading juvenile hurdler of last season rounded off his campaign with victory in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham but has so far struggled to show the same level of form this term.
Matthew Budden, racing manager for the five-year-old’s owners the Elite Racing Club, said: “His preparation had gone perfect leading up to the totesport Trophy.
“It was a shame that race was lost but we always had this race at the back of our minds just in case.
“We are better off with some horses this week than we were last Saturday and some of the bigger guns aren’t running which is a bonus.
“We are pleased with the horse and there are no other options really and this race will tell us where we are likely to go at Cheltenham.
“I wouldn’t say he was necessarily a spring horse but he definitely likes the better ground at this time of year. He’s a fresh horse as he’s only had two runs so hopefully we can have some fun between now and the end of the season.”
Tommy Stack’s novice Tolpuddle is an interesting contender having finished third in a Grade Two at Punchestown on his latest start.
“He was entered in a novice hurdle on the same card,” said the trainer’s son, James.
“But we thought if we were sending him over we may as well run him in the better race for a crack at some decent prize money.
“He was a good performer on the Flat and we are coming over for the better ground.
“We are not 100% sure he truly stays two miles yet so tomorrow will tell us a lot.”
Paul Nicholls relies on the smart novice Natal from an initial entry of three and his Cheltenham hopeful will be ridden by 5lb-claimer Liam Heard.
However, as the race is a Grade Two, the young jockey will be unable to claim his weight advantage.
“It’s a hot looking contest,” Nicholls told Teletext.
“He was going to run last week in the abandoned totesport Trophy and unfortunately Liam can’t use his claim as it is a graded race.
“He needs to run somewhere though. The hurdles track there is fresh ground and good to soft should be ideal for him.”
Order of Merit leader Royal Shakespeare is in the line-up but faces a tough task giving weight away all round and Roger Brookhouse has the useful novice Whispered Promises entered.
Desert Air, Briareus, Chief Yeoman and Goldbrook complete the field.
