Ponsonby @rosemeirion confident ahead of @SkyBet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle

Ponsonby confident ahead of Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle

First Mohican will put his Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle credentials on the line in the £27,500 Grade Two Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (3.15pm, 11 entries) over two miles at Kempton Park on Saturday, February 22. Sky Bet makes him the 6/4 favourite for Saturday's contest.

The six-year-old was a classy middle-distance performer on the Flat for Sir Henry and Lady Cecil (rated as high as 108 and Group Three-placed) and made a successful hurdling debut for Alan King at Doncaster on February 6, when beating Huff And Puff by three quarters of a length.

Syndicate manager Henry Ponsonby reported today: "First Mohican has come out of his win at Doncaster fantastically well and is a definite runner in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle.

"I thought he would win a bit more impressively than he did, but Alan (King) tells me that he has come on a ton since then. He worked very well on Friday and you would not know he had a race.

"I think he's stones better than the bare result at Doncaster, but don't forget that Huff And Puff was a good horse on the Flat as well.

"I think First Mohican has got a tremendous chance on Saturday and, even if Irving runs, I'm not too concerned as First Mohican was a better horse on the Flat.

"Hopefully, after the Dovecote it will be on to Cheltenham for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle."

The 11 entries for the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle are headed by German import Irving (Paul Nicholls, 2/1 with Sky Bet), who is the 8/1 second favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle following three impressive hurdle successes in Britain. He could be joined by stablemate Fascino Rustico (10/1).

Also engaged is course and distance victor Amore Alato (Nick Williams, 7/1), the John Ferguson-trained pair of Dubai Prince (20/1) and Mijhaar (12/1), and Grade One Tolworth Hurdle fourth Garde La Victoire (Philip Hobbs, 10/1).

Nicky Henderson, successful last year with Forgotten Voice, has entered Cup Final, (8/1) who finished second behind Irving when the pair clashed on their hurdling debuts at Taunton in November, while Charlie Longsdon could run Chelteham runner-up Germany Calling (20/1).

Plumpton scorer Clonusker (Linda Jewell, 66/1) and French import Vaihau (Jonjo O'Neill, 16/1) complete the entries.

Michael Shinners, Racing PR for Sky Bet, commented: "This is the last recognised trial for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle before the big day at Cheltenham on March 11. 

"We are delighted with the quality of the race and with First Mohican and possibly Irving both running, we will have a clearer idea on Saturday evening of what are going to be the main challengers from this side of the Irish Sea."

Sky Bet betting: 6/4 First Mohican; 2/1 Irving; 7/1 Amore Alato; 8/1 Cup Final; 10/1 Garde La Victoire; 10/1 Fascino Rustico; 12/1 Mijhaar; 16/1 Vaihau; 20/1 Germany Calling; 20/1 Dubai Prince; 66/1 Clonusker