Horse Racing: No Christmas cheer for hurdling Reindeer
The sight of a hurdling Reindeer at Towcester on Boxing Day might mistakenly lead festive punters into flights of fancy and believing Father Christmas has missed his deadline for the year.
The theory goes that he'll be in such a hurry, he'll simply hack up in the 2m EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle at 1.25pm.
However, if you speak to Cheshire trainer Donald McCain, the picture becomes much clearer.
For Reindeer Dippin is a six year-old gelding having just his third start from the Cholmodeley stables made famous by his father Ginger.
And while the exploits of Red Rum in winning three Grand Nationals in the 1970s and latterly Amberleigh House in 2004 in the same race were indeed the stuff of legends, McCain jnr does not expect the magic to extend to Reindeer Dippin.
Instead, have a much closer look at his other Towcester runner Cromwell Court who should go very close in the beginners' chase half an hour later.
McCain, who will have a more high profile runner in Wetherby's Rowland Meyrick Chase with last season's Grand National sixth runner Cloudy Lane said: "Reindeer Dippin is named after the best rodeo bull in America but the horse is still very weak and immature although his full brother (Comhla Ri Coig) won at Haydock at the weekend.
"However, Reindeer Dippin will probably run at Towcester as we will be going there with Cromwell Court who has been second on his last two starts."
Cromwell Court last appeared when runner-up to Galant Nuit at Uttoxeter at the end of November when the 2m 6f trip proved well within his compass.
Significantly, McCain said: "I think the track will suit him at Towcester and he will go well."
Holdenby North Lodge trainer Caroline Bailey has good reason to be pleased with her pre-Christmas build-up after the success of Doctor David at Haydock Park last Saturday put the grey in the shake-up for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham in March and she has possibilities with Waltham Abbey in the opening gg.com Mistletoe Handicap Chase.
The mystery of Towcester's 2m 5f Merry Christmas From CP Associates NH Novices' Handicap Hurdle could well be solved by Lucy Wadham who might run both this season's course winner Cornelia and recent Huntingdon scorer Chaim (pronounced Hime) although Ben Case thinks a good deal of Dance Island who might be having his first run in handicap company and should prove worth following from now on.
Mrs Wadham said: "We are trying to qualify Chaim for a race at Sandown but the Towcester race might prove a little hot.
We also have Salsero (third to Keltic Moon here last month) in two chases."
The trainer, successful on Saturday with United at Haydock Park, is keen for Dominic Elsworth to ride her better horses, having forged a good relationship with the freelance who is also adding his skills to runners from other stables such as Oliver Sherwood and Paul Webber.
Riding plans are uncertain with seven jumping meetings on Boxing Day but Elsworth is a good man to follow at present, as is Aidan Coleman who scored on 50/1 shot Hinton Thunderbolt at last year's Towcester Boxing Day card.
Venetia Williams had her first two winners of the Towcester season at this meeting 12 months ago and it could be significant she is running into a tidy spell of form right now on the 'hot trainers' list.
No-one though, can currently match Nicky Henderson in this sphere and the Lambourn handler looks to be well represented in the concluding bumper at Towcester with Ryde Back and Similar Fashion, the latter horse leased to the Weatherbys Racing Club at Wellingborough.
Similar Fashion was third at Towcester behind his stable mate Bai Zhu last month.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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