Highly-rated Henderson runner tipped for Newbury joy

11:06am Thursday 26th November 2009

By Tom O'Ryan

The National Hunt season is firmly in top gear and at Newbury tomorrow a potential new star of the chasing game is poised to make his eagerly awaited debut over fences.

The Fuller’s London Pride Novices’ Chase is the target for Punchestowns, trained at Lambourn by Nicky Henderson and a top-class hurdler last season.

Winner of the Long Walk Hurdle and a hugely creditable runner-up to top stayer Big Bucks at Cheltenham in both January and at the March Festival, Punchestowns has the potential to go right to the top of the tree in his new sphere.

Henderson, who has always viewed this well grown gelding as an embryo chaser, will have schooled him well for his fencing debut.

He may well be opposed by some talented horses like Kangaroo Court and Quwetwo, but Punchestowns ticks all the right boxes and will be the horse most Newbury racegoers will be keen to see. Barry Geraghty has the mount.

The first day of Newbury’s Hennessy Gold Cup meeting also features the Sanderson Weatherall Marick Developments Novices’ Handicap Chase, in which Bob’s Dream makes plenty of appeal if he makes the long journey from Willie Amos’ Jedburgh stable.

Winner of his last two races, Bob’s Dream is developing into a pretty smart handicapper. A hat-trick could be on the cards.

Mille Chief was all the rage before making his hurdling debut at Market Rasen, but just as he looked like winning in style he was brought down by a faller at the penultimate flight.

Alan King’s highly-regarded French recruit deserves the chance to atone in the Q Associates.

At Wolverhampton, Restless Genius is napped to win the eventmasters.co.uk Corporate Hospitality Handicap.

Trained by Brian Ellison, whose horses could hardly been in better form, the four-year-old finished a creditable second to Bel Cantor on his latest start at Southwell over a largely inadequate five furlongs.

The step up to six furlongs will be ideal for Restless Genius, who was a winner over the same course and distance in May. Furthermore, he is now set to race off a 1lb lower mark. Martin Lane, excellent value for his 3lb claim takes the mount.

Gala Casino Star, four times a winner and five times a runner-up on turf, bids for his first all-weather success at his third attempt in the Broadway Handicap.

If Richard Fahey’s tough gelding can transfer some of his turf ability to sand, he will surely be involved in the finish.

Others to note are the Ollie Pears-trained Joyeaux (6.20), who is overdue a winning turn, and The Kyllachy Kid (7.50), a course winner two weeks ago.

6.20 Joyeaux, 6.50 Kingsgate Choice, 7.20 Inflammable, 7.50 The Kyllachy Kid, 8.20 Thewinnatakesitall, 8.50 Gala Casino Star, 9.20 Restless Genius (NAP).