3 minute read

Thunder Rock disappointed slightly last time out but can bounce back to winning ways in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Olly Murphy has very high hopes for the seven-year-old, who won four of his six outings over hurdles.

Connections always viewed him as a potential chaser, though, so rather than go to last season's Cheltenham Festival, he instead headed to Sandown for the EBF Final where the combination of soft ground and a red-hot race found him out.

He did end his season on a winning note at the Scottish Grand National meeting, meaning he went for a summer at grass with his confidence raised.

He began life over fences in a tidy novice handicap at Uttoxeter, winning easily, with the second scoring next time out.

Thunder Rock then beat a solid yardstick in Solo with consummate ease at Ascot before being stepped up in class for the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, where he was beaten three and a half lengths by the impressive The Real Whacker having always been on the back foot, possibly due to the prevailing soft ground again.

Conditions will not be anywhere near as testing at Sandown and he can provide Murphy with a second win in the Grade One contest following Itchy Feet's triumph in 2020.

Storm Nelson can make the long trip from Sandy Thomson's yard pay by winning the £100,000 Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle.

Lightly raced, the 10-year-old has proved a very shrewd private purchase out of Lucy Normile's yard.

Only rated 100 when switching stables, he won his first three races for new connections, seeing his mark rise to 128, but did not run again for eight months.

He was beaten on his next two starts, after which he underwent wind surgery and had another lengthy break before returning this season with two more victories.

He does not fit the usual profile of a winner of this race, but his is not a normal career path and he is far less exposed than his age might suggest.

The Dan Skelton-trained Ballygrifincottage gets the vote in the Grade Two William Hill Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.

The eight-year-old has missed a couple of engagements since winning impressively on his chasing debut at Haydock.

The form does not look as strong as it did at the time, with the runner-up failing to progress as once looked likely, but he was never out of second gear and we know Skelton's charge possesses considerable ability given he finished fourth in the Albert Bartlett last term.

Jane Du Berlais' form was given a boost when Bonttay, the horse she beat at Lingfield in December, won at Exeter on Wednesday.

Jane Du Berlais had previously looked likely to win at Uttoxeter before slipping up on the home turn and she can defy a penalty in the Wilmot-Smith Memorial Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Ben Pauling's Slipway looks the one to concentrate on in the bet365 Edinburgh National at Musselburgh.

He had struggled to put good runs together until winning his last two races, admittedly 205 days apart.

Winner of the Southern National at Fontwell in November, he has had a long enough break since to be fresh for his latest assignment and he certainly looks like an out-and-out stayer.

Annaf has looked an improved performer for Mick Appleby and can land the Betuk Kachy Stakes at Lingfield.

It is the first day of Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival, which looks like being something of a monopoly for Willie Mullins.

Lossiemouth, Dysart Dynamo and Galopin Des Champs should all win Grade Ones, but the opening Nathaniel Lacy And Partners Solicitors "50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff" Novice Hurdle has a more open look to it and it is hoped some adventurous planning pays off for connections of Weveallbeencaught.

Third to easy Challow Hurdle winner Hermes Allen on his hurdling debut in a Grade Two, he then won at Cheltenham on New Year's Day when chased home by Rock My Way, who franked the form in no uncertain terms at Prestbury Park last weekend.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Weveallbeencaught is fancied to strike a rare blow for Britain in the first of eight Grade Ones this weekend.

SELECTIONS:

KEMPTON: 5.30 Brave Display, 6.00 Spring Promise, 6.30 Eight Mile, 7.00 Kingdom Come, 7.30 One More Olly, 8.00 Bluenose Belle, 8.30 Winklevi.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 1.20 Weveallbeencaught, 1.55 Lossiemouth, 2.30 Dysart Dynamo, 3.05 Galopin Des Champs, 3.40 Sam's Choice, 4.10 Final Orders, 4.40 Fascile Mode.

LINGFIELD: 12.10 Matching Sox, 12.40 Pablo Prince, 1.16 French Invasion, 1.51 Hello Zabeel, 2.26 Annaf, 3.01 Tempus, 3.36 One Step Beyond.

MUSSELBURGH: 1.28 Drumbear, 2.03 Slipway, 2.35 Glen Cannel, 3.16 Nayati, 3.48 Iolani, 4.20 Didero Vallis.

SANDOWN: 12.35 Chasing Fire, 1.10 Twinjets, 1.45 Third Time Lucki, 2.20 Thunder Rock, 2.55 Storm Nelson, 3.30 Equus Dancer, 4.03 Wrappedupinmay.

WETHERBY: 1.00 Largy Shark, 1.35 Our Jet, 2.10 JANE DU BERLAIS (NAP), 2.40 Ballygrifincottage, 3.23 Doctor Dex, 3.55 Late Romantic, 4.30 Mr Bramley.

DOUBLE: Jane Du Berlais and Thunder Rock.

What are you really gambling with? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.