WILLMOUNT TO CLAIM CHALLOW CROWN

By Adam Morgan

Willmount is backed to enhance his burgeoning reputation when he goes for big-race glory in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

A £340,000 purchase after dazzling between the flags, he did what was expected when trained by Neil Mulholland in his bumper season and was extremely taking when starting out for new trainer Nicky Henderson here over two miles in November.

This is a much stiffer challenge and also a step up in trip, but he has earned his shot at this final Grade One of the calendar year and is already high up in the ante-post betting for the Cheltenham Festival.

His experience between the flags adds to the case for stepping up in trip and it could be this new distance unlocks an extra level from this hugely-promising novice.

Henderson has saddled just the one runner in this since striking with Champ in 2018, but he now looks to have the ideal candidate to break Paul Nicholls’ stranglehold on the contest.

The Seven Barrows handler also fires a red-hot prospect at the Coral Racing Club Join For Free “Introductory” Hurdle where Jeriko Du Reponet is backed to remain unbeaten over the track and trip.

The way he sauntered to victory on his rules debut earlier this month only backed up the promise suggested in both the pointing field and at a Newbury gallops morning and this supremely-talented four-year-old could have some big prizes at his mercy once building up his experience.

Nico de Boinville was motionless at the finish on that occasion as he cruised to victory and although he could face a higher calibre of opposition now, there could be plenty of untapped potential lurking in the tank.

Dan Skelton’s Get A Tonic benefitted from a change in tactics when bolting up over course and distance recently and can repeat the dose off an 8lb higher mark while her tail is up.

Staying chasers are Sue Smith’s bread and butter and her East Street could get his hands on Haydock’s feature Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old has shown a liking for the testing conditions he will encounter at the Merseyside track, while the way he travelled and finished in bottomless ground at Newcastle last time suggests a test of stamina could be right up his street as he heads beyond three miles for the first time.

Phil Kirby’s Jason The Militant has the right conditions to roll back the years if firing on all cylinders in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle.

A Grade Two winner and placed at the highest level in his pomp, he has not registered a win since taking a Listed Flat heat on very deep ground in October 2021 but is now off his lowest mark for quite some time.

There is Listed action at Taunton where Harry Derham’s Queens Gamble could be the answer to the Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

A top bumper performer when trained by Oliver Sherwood, she took her hurdles record to two from two when making her stable bow at Kempton.

She could end up rated much higher than her current perch of 120 if fulfilling her potential over hurdles and this could be a good opportunity to add another Listed verdict to her CV.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 14.05 Greyval, Race 2: 14.40 Jeriko Du Reponet, Race 3: 15.15 Richhill,
Race 4: 15.50 Get A Tonic, Race 5: 16.25 Surrey Quest, Race 6: 17.00 WILLMOUNT (NAP),
Race 7: 17.35 Passing Well.

HAYDOCK: Race 1: 14.15 Hill Of Tara, Race 2: 14.50 Fresh Speculation, Race 3: 15.25 East
Street, Race 4: 16.00 Southern Sam, Race 5: 16.35 Jason The Militant, Race 6: 17.10 Happy
And Fine, Race 7: 17.45 Rossbridge.

TAUNTON: Race 1: 14.25 Mojo Ego, Race 2: 15.00 Centara, Race 3: 15.35 Hard Frost, Race 4:
16.10 Queens Gamble, Race 5: 16.45 King Of The Lake, Race 6: 17.20 Pedley Wood, Race 7:
17.55 Individualist.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 17.40 Finn Russell, Race 2: 18.15 Bishop's Glory, Race 3: 18.45
Mapogo, Race 4: 19.15 Gavi Di Gavi, Race 5: 19.45 Baldomero, Race 6: 20.15 Wee Fat Mac,
Race 7: 20.45 Rebecca West, Race 8: 21.15 Mitigator.

ALL TO COME: Jeriko Du Reponet and Willmount (Newbury, Races 2 and 6).

For fields, betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com