FLINTY Bay made a costly mistake at Aintree last time but compensation awaits in the John Smith’s C & IU 150th Anniversary Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Sedgefield.
A dual hurdles winner, he did not enjoy the rub of the green on his chasing bow when badly hampered and unseating his rider.
He then went on to Aintree where he was still travelling nicely before crashing through the eighth fence and losing valuable momentum.
To his credit, Flinty Bay recovered and kept on to be third and Nicky Richards is sure to have put in plenty of practice on the schooling ground ahead of this race.
Australia Day can squeeze in another win before proper winter ground becomes the norm as he turns out again at Huntingdon.
The eight-year-old will be having his third start in just over a month but trainer Paul Webber is keen to get some jumping experience into his charge while going remains good.
Australia Day does need a sound surface to show his best so much was expected when he made his fencing bow at this track at the beginning of October. However, a false start fired him up to such a degree that jockey Denis O’Regan had little chance of getting a good hold on him in the race proper and he folded tamely in second.
That experience taught Australia Day plenty of valuable lessons though, and while he was still keen at Kempton next time, he did not blaze away in quite the same style.
Australia Day still impressed in triumphing by 51 lengths and his exuberant jumping makes him one of the most exciting horses around at the moment.
The Tom Jones Memorial HTJ Centre Ltd Novices’ Chase looks another good opportunity while quicker ground still prevails.
Right Stuff can prove aptly-named for his followers in the Ingrebourne Valley Handicap Hurdle.
The Dansili gelding had been a while in getting off the mark over timber, but the vibes were good at Kempton last week and he scored with a deal of authority in a conditionals race under trainer Gary Moore’s son, Joshua.
The eight-year-old escapes a penalty and Moore junior can take off 5lb in this extended two-mile event.
Flinty Bay made a costly mistake at Aintree last time but compensation awaits in the John Smith’s C & IU 150th Anniversary Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Sedgefield.
A dual hurdles winner, he did not enjoy the rub of the green on his chasing bow when badly hampered and unseating his rider.
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