A classy field of seven
has been declared for the £30,500 Grade Two totepool Towton Novices' Chase over
three miles and furlong, the highlight on totepool Irish Day at Wetherby,
tomorrow, Saturday, February 2.
The field is headed by the
Jason Maguire-ridden Super Duty, who posted a gutsy 13-length success
over an extended two and a half miles at Cheltenham in December, having filled
the runners-up spot on his first two chase outings at Carlisle and Haydock.
The seven-year-old had
high-class form over hurdles, chasing home Simonsig in the Grade Two Mersey
Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April.
Trainer Donald McCain
said: "Super Duty is in grand form at the moment and I am very happy with
him.
"I always thought he
would make a better chaser and the totepool Towton Novices' Chase looks the
obvious race to go for before we decide what we are doing at Cheltenham.
"He is a better horse
on better ground but he has been winning on soft ground so it shouldn't stop him
unduly."
Local handler Sue Smith,
who was the leading trainer at Wetherby last season, will be represented by
progressive seven-year-old Fill The Power. The gelding runs in the same
colours as Wetherby specialist Mister McGoldrick did and, after scoring on his
chase debut at Sedgefield in May, he hasn't finished out of the first three in
four subsequent starts.
Sue's husband Harvey said:
"Fill The Power is in good form and we are hoping there is more to come
from him because he is progressing well. He ran a good race last time and will
see out the trip all right."
Goulanes, trained by David Pipe
and partnered by Tom Scudamore, will be having his first start over fences
after a brief but successful career of hurdles. A point-to-point winner in
Ireland, the seven-year-old triumphed on his hurdling debut at Newbury in March
before a courageous neck success in a Listed handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in
November.
The strong line-up for the
totepool Towton Novices' Chase also includes Restless Harry, who enjoyed
his finest hour at Wetherby when winning the Grade Two John Smith's Hurdle by
20 lengths in October, 2011, and the Venetia Williams-trained Houblon Des
Obeaux (first preference 2.25pm Sandown).
The Tim Easterby-trained Fourjacks,
a winner on his chase debut for his owner Trevor Hemmings at Wetherby on
January 12, and recent Kelso winner Fentara, also trained in Yorkshire
but by Tim Walford, complete the field.
Totepool Irish Day also
features the £18,000 Play totescoop6 At totepool.com Handicap Chase (3.55pm, 11
runners), while some of the useful hunter chasers will also be on show in the
prestigious Wilmot-Smith Memorial Cup (1.35pm, seven runners), one of the first
significant hunter chases of the season.
Gates open at 10.30am with
the action getting underway at 1.00pm.
The Irish-themed marquee
in the Paddock Enclosure is open to all racegoers and features the Ceilidh
House Band and dancers. Advanced bookings for the 'Irish Experience' can be
made right up to the meeting. For £22 this includes Paddock Enclosure
admission, voucher for the full-colour racecard, a pint of Guinness, a beef
& Guinness meal and a discounted tote betting voucher.
GOING
The going at Wetherby
remains: Soft (Heavy in places)
Clerk of the Course Jonjo
Sanderson said: "We had three millimetres of rain overnight, along with a
couple of further sharp showers on Friday morning, which have put down another
half a millimetre.
"The strong winds
over the last couple of days will have made the ground a little tacky, so if
anything the rain might just help the horses get through the ground a little
better. Saturday's forecast is for a dry and sunny day, which would make a
refreshing change!
"The declarations
we've received this morning are extremely pleasing and everyone is looking
forward to a good, competitive, day's racing."
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