THE National Hunt season is now fully underway with some exciting names to look out for across this weekend’s cards.
Not least in the Grand Sefton Chase on Saturday, where last year’s second, Percussion, bids to go one better over the Grand National course.
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There are also two Grade 2s to be run at Wincanton on Saturday, while Friday’s card holds the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.
14:25 Haldon Gold Cup
JPR One is the one to watch in the 2m1f Handicap Chase. Joe Tizzard won the race 12 months ago with Elixir de Nutz and believes his 15-8 shot can follow in these hoofprints.
The talented seven-year-old clearly goes well fresh too, having won on each of his three previous seasonal returns.
The six-runner field will also see Bryony Frost back riding for her old boss Paul Nicholls aboard Sans Bruit.
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Frost decamped to France earlier this season when she bagged the job of retained jockey for top owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede of the double green silks, but she’s returned for the big ride.
She’s won at Aintree before on Sans Bruit in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at the Festival in April, and at 6-1, the bookies currently have the pair finishing mid-field.
The unstoppable Dan Skelton, who is on a strike rate of 24%, has the 3-1 second fav Etalon who won on three of his four starts last season.
14:23 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase
The Grade 2 at Wincanton on Saturday over 2m4f looks an open race with Sun columnist Ben Pauling’s Handstands top of the betting of a five-runner field at 2-1.
The five-year-old makes his seasonal and chasing debut under Ben Jones after winning four times on the trot last season before finishing sixth in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
14:55 Elite Hurdle
Betting-wise this is looking like a one-horse-race with last year’s winner, Paul Nicholls’ Rubaud, a sharp 10-11 favourite.
He’s taken the same path here as last year too, already winning the Listed Trades People Hurdle at Kempton.
Nicholls’ is being taken on by his former assistant Harry Derham who saddles the second fav Brentford Hope, a former flat horse who switched disciplines the season before last.
He stepped out of handicapping company last time out in a Listed race at Punchestown where he finished second to Willie Mullins’ Daddy Long legs. It will be interesting to see how he fares in his first test at this level.
14:40 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase
The 2m5f contest over the Grand National course has 13 runners as it stands, including 2022’s winner Al Dancer. He’s 14-1 to repeat his success under jockey Callum Pritchard.
Last year’s second and third, Adam Wedge’s Percussion (13-2) and Venetia Williams’ Frero Banbou (5-1) are both bidding to improve on last year’s performances.
Other big fancies include Topham winner Arizona Cardinal who won the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase and Latenightpass, who also has experience over the big fences.
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Olly Murphy’s Sure Touch has won his last four starts and is 13-2 to make it a five-timer under Sean Bowen.
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