CLUB TRAINERS IN NEW YEAR ACTION FROM WINCANTON TO NEWCASTLE

The first Saturday of the New Year sees Rebecca Menzies send a quartet of runners on the short journey to Newcastle.  The first of them, Dalyotin in the 1.23, makes a quick reappearance as he bids to bounce back from a slightly disappointing run at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Rebecca then saddles Oliver’s Army in the 2.33, this 4-y-o having his first run for the yard after a long lay-off.  Had To Be Hugo had very little luck when he ran here last month and could be interesting in the Novices’ hurdle off at 3.08.  Rebecca’s final runner is Fever Roque, who could go close in the concluding handicap chase despite carrying top weight.

Jonjo O’Neill has two representatives at Wincanton.  In the 12.20, connections will be hoping for more from The Gooner than he showed when beaten at odds-on on his debut in late November, while Montmartin makes his first racecourse start in the Maiden hurdle off at 12.50.

By far the busiest Club trainer this Saturday is Joe Tizzard, who has eight running at the yard’s local track, Wincanton, as well as Elegant Escape in the Veterans’ Series Final at Sandown.  Team Tizz are doubly represented in both Wincanton’s 12.20 and 12.55.  Brendan Powell’s decision to ride Pedley Wood in the former, and King Of Lombardy in the latter, may suggest they are the stable first strings, but Tom Cannon’s presence on board I Shut That D’Or and Talimar Pearl in their respective contests is hardly a negative for either runner.

Elixir De Nutx is up in trip following an encouraging second over two miles at Doncaster last month and looks a major player in the 1.30, while top weight Kauto King invariably runs well at this track and should give Brendan Powell a decent spin in the 2.05. Don’t forget, you can read the thoughts of Joe Tizzard on all his weekend runners in his blog here

Conditional jockey Freddie Gingell then takes over on the yard’s final two Wincanton runners.  Seymour Promise has a long absence to overcome in the 2.40, but there are no such concerns for No Hubs No Hoobs, who bids to follow up his recent course and distance success under Gingell in the concluding handicap chase, off at 3.50.

Good luck to all our trainers, and their owners, with their runners this weekend.