By Tony Kelshaw, P
With the National Hunt season now in full swing, West Balboa is one of several interesting entries at Worcester.
Dan Skelton’s mare has already been a marvellous servant over hurdles, with her four wins featuring a valuable Lanzarote handicap triumph at Kempton and a Grade Three success at Aintree.
The daughter of Yeats was also runner-up to Stage Star in a Challow at Newbury and was sent off favourite for last year’s Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
At the age of eight, West Balboa is now sent over fences and connections have expressed hopes of her getting back into graded company, so hopefully she can get off to a good start in the Sri Lanka, The Wonder Of Asia Mares’ Novices’ Chase.
Lucinda Russell’s Big John Wayne looks a useful long-term prospect over bigger obstacles but gets the nod in the Sri Lanka, The Jewel Of Asia Novices’ Hurdle for now.
The Irish point-to-point winner was a couple of lengths clear and travelling strongly when coming down at the final flight at Newcastle in February but can begin to make up for lost time.
Notebooks will be at the ready when a number of nice types line up in the Amazing Sri Lanka EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle, with three-time bumper winner Jurancan among them.
With Kim Bailey’s yard in such fine form of late, though, The Kemble Brewery could be the one to be on here.
A son of Blue Bresil, he beat Valgrand in a Cheltenham bumper around this time last year and that rival is already twice a scorer over timber.
The Kemble Brewery then disappointed at odds-on in a Prestbury Park maiden hurdle won by Cannock Park and has since been off for 11 months, but he remains a horse with huge potential.
Sticking over the jumps at Wetherby, Opec will be looking to gain compensation for an unlucky first spin over timber at Market Rasen back in June.
He was over 10 lengths ahead and cruising when taking a tumble at the second last but can recoup those losses in the James Hambro & Partners Above & Beyond Juvenile Hurdle Qualifier.
The same Gredley family colours will be carried by Allmankind in the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting 1st – 2nd November Handicap Hurdle and he can give connections a double on the day.
He has obviously had plenty of problems since finishing third in the 2020 Triumph and cleaning up as a novice chaser the following season, but made an eye-catching first start for new handler James Owen when third at Market Rasen last month following a 609-day break.
On the Flat at Nottingham, Revoir is an interesting newcomer for Ralph Beckett in the EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The Study Of Man filly is a half-sister to the same trainer’s Coronation Stakes and Falmouth Stakes runner-up Remarquee.
Solar Acclaim has shown a liking for some cut underfoot of late and may appreciate dropping down to the minimum trip for the Trustatrader You Can Trust Our Traders Handicap.
Darn Hot Mystery sets a solid standard in Kempton’s valuable British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes.
Henry Candy’s charge was an encouraging third when unfancied on her debut here and built on that when beaten by just a short head at Linfield next time.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
WETHERBY: Race 1: 15.00 Ebony Warrior, Race 2: 15.30 Pay The Piper, Race 3: 16.00 Opec,
Race 4: 16.30 Jet Plane, Race 5: 17.00 Allmankind, Race 6: 17.30 Lady In The Park, Race 7:
18.03 Duke Of Deception.
WORCESTER: Race 1: 15.08 Flash In The Park, Race 2: 15.38 WEST BALBOA (NAP), Race 3:
16.08 Sun Art, Race 4: 16.38 Big John Wayne, Race 5: 17.08 The Kemble Brewery, Race 6:
17.38 Ryder's Rock, Race 7: 18.10 Robber's Bridge.
NOTTINGHAM: Race 1: 15.15 Archivist, Race 2: 15.45 Revoir, Race 3: 16.15 Orchard, Race 4:
16.45 Heat Of Passion, Race 5: 17.18 I Need Your Love, Race 6: 17.50 Solar Aclaim, Race 7:
18.20 Mehmo.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 17.13 Montbeliarde, Race 2: 17.45 We're Done, Race 3: 18.15 Eupator,
Race 4: 18.45 Dark Lyric, Race 5: 19.15 Darn Hot Mystery, Race 6: 19.45 Ever Hopefull, Race
7: 20.15 Palace Green, Race 8: 20.45 Queen's Guard, Race 9: 21.15 Electric Avenue.
ALL TO COME: West Balboa and Big John Wayne (Worcester, Races 2 and 4).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com