SAM Jukes has reported his Cheltenham Festival hope Marcle Ridge remains on course for the rearranged Vine & Craven Hunt meeting at Barbury on Saturday, writes Russell Smith.
The fixture, which was postponed last weekend due to high winds from Storm Ciara, has been rescheduled subject to the necessary officials being found.
And Jukes, who is based at Dymock, near Ledbury, is keen to run the Clive Bennett-owned eight-year-old in the Mixed Open ahead of a possible crack at the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at the Festival.
The trainer-rider has also given Marcle Ridge, a six-lengths second to Caid Du Berlais at Buckfastleigh last month, entries in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill and at Buckfastleigh this weekend. But he said: "We do really like Barbury as a course. I wanted to go there last weekend and the horses have been prepped for the races and I am very happy to go there this Saturday. He is ready to run. He just wants to get out now. I have had to explain to him to be patient."
Marcle Ridge features among a 31-strong entry, which includes Templebraden, who won this race on his seasonal reappearance last year and was also third in 2018 and second in 2017. Now 13, the veteran gained a head verdict over Marcle Ridge at Maisemore Park last term.
Kinnersley trainer James Ridley said: "He was good at Barbury last year and I would like to think his first run would be one of his better runs this year."
Peter Mason, who trains at Ablington, near Bibury, is hoping conditions aren't too testing so he can run Wick Green, conqueror of Captain Buck's last month. The trainer-rider, whose seven-year-old is also entered in the Coronation Gold Cup and at Howick, said: "Barbury would be our first choice, but if it gets really soft then we will have a rethink. He won at Larkhill in a good time and I am hoping he has a bit more improvement."
Sally Randell has entered impressive Cocklebarrow winner Barney Dawn and Cheltenam de Vaige from her Withington stables, near Andoversford, but says she is more likely to aim the pair at Kingston Blount the following weekend.
Southfield Theatre is another leading contender, who is also engaged at Larkhill and in a Fakenham hunters' chase on Friday. "Basically, we are looking for the best ground," said Letcombe Bassett trainer Sara Bradstock.
With clerk of the course John White reporting the going to be Good to Soft on Tuesday, the meeting, which gets under way at 11.30, has attracted a bumper 174 entries - the highest for any fixture this year.
Twenty-one are in contention for the Ten Years & Over Conditions Race over 3m 4f.
Azure Fly won in good style at Cocklebarrow, and is joint top-rated, although Bibury trainer Dibby Brown's charge has the option of going to Larkhill. Lotus Pond, a three-time course winner, is likely to improve on his seasonal return when third at Bangor-on-Dee last month for Mandy Bryan's Worthen Hall stables, near Shrewsbury. The Dapper Fox, another course winner, could represent Cullompton owner-trainer-rider Jack Veysey after finishing second to Sausalito Sunrise at Cocklebarrow. The Well Road was fourth that day, and his handler, Sam Jukes, said: "He stays all day, but obviously that was his first time at that distance and the ground went against him."
Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill has given Knight Bachelor an entry here and in the PPORA Club Novice Riders Conditions Race. This contest has 26 contenders headed by Master Dancer, a 10-length second to Silsol at Chipley Park for Cullompton handler Stuart Sampson, while Gingili was consistent in this class last term for Johnny Farrelly's Upper Twinhoe stables, near Bath.
Owner-trainer Tim Underwood has set his sights on taking the Sporting Agenda Vine & Craven Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race for a third successive year, this time with Miss Massey. Underwood sent out Timmie Roe and Golden Crisp from his Beedon stables, near Newbury, to take the last two runnings, and he believes his seven-year-old mare has a major chance of following up last month's Larkhill win. "Princely Player would be my danger against Miss Massey," he said. "Martin Oliver reckons she is the best horse I have ever had - he really rates her."
Meeting secretary Karen Hobbs trains Princely Player at East Garston, and she reported: "He is in really good form and has schooled well, so he is on target for it, but he likes the top of the ground."
Underwood also has Tinnehinch among the 13 entries, but his Irish import is more likely to tackle the Magee Equine Restricted. The 10-year-old split Risky Gold and Family Man in a tight finish at Cocklebarrow, and his handler feels he is ready to go one better, saying: "If he puts his best foot forward he will win."
Jukes is hoping Gottagottagetaway can build on last month's Buckfastleigh 15-length maiden success. "He is still very green," commented the trainer-rider. "He didn't really know what was going on when he hit the front."
The Jockey Club Estates Open Maiden has attracted the day's biggest entry of 34. Top rated is Shamilan, who has joined Julie Mansell's Hasfield yard, near Gloucester, after showing promise under rules for Tom George, including when sixth at Chepstow in October. Organised Solution, runner-up to Goldenbrave at Bangor-on-Dee, My Bobby Dazzler, second to Fedelta at Larkhill, and So Socksy, who found just Lady Sally too good here in December, would be other leading fancies.
Phil Rowley landed a division of the Flat Race last year with Bird On The Wire, making his two entries, Heeratsunset and Luke San, of obvious interest this time. Gearoid Costelloe's duo, Any Alibis and Indigo Breeze, are worth a market check after he claimed a similar contest last month with Grand Knight.
Rounding off the meeting is the inaugural running of the Barbury Castle Racing Staff Charity Race over 1m 2f on the Flat in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Open to any rider who works full time in a racing yard and has never held an amateur license or any license, it has attracted entries from the stables of Oliver Sherwood, Kim Bailey, Dai Williams, David Weston and Chris Gordon.
Also new is a dog show and a heated big tent, provided by Freddie Tulloch’s Outside Chance bar.
SAM Jukes has reported his Cheltenham Festival hope Marcle Ridge remains on course for the rearranged Vine & Craven Hunt meeting at Barbury on Saturday, writes Russell Smith.
The fixture, which was postponed last weekend due to high winds from Storm Ciara, has been rescheduled subject to the necessary officials being found.
And Jukes, who is based at Dymock, near Ledbury, is keen to run the Clive Bennett-owned eight-year-old in the Mixed Open ahead of a possible crack at the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at the Festival.
The trainer-rider has also given Marcle Ridge, a six-lengths second to Caid Du Berlais at Buckfastleigh last month, entries in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill and at Buckfastleigh this weekend. But he said: "We do really like Barbury as a course. I wanted to go there last weekend and the horses have been prepped for the races and I am very happy to go there this Saturday. He is ready to run. He just wants to get out now. I have had to explain to him to be patient."
Marcle Ridge features among a 31-strong entry, which includes Templebraden, who won this race on his seasonal reappearance last year and was also third in 2018 and second in 2017. Now 13, the veteran gained a head verdict over Marcle Ridge at Maisemore Park last term.
Kinnersley trainer James Ridley said: "He was good at Barbury last year and I would like to think his first run would be one of his better runs this year."
Peter Mason, who trains at Ablington, near Bibury, is hoping conditions aren't too testing so he can run Wick Green, conqueror of Captain Buck's last month. The trainer-rider, whose seven-year-old is also entered in the Coronation Gold Cup and at Howick, said: "Barbury would be our first choice, but if it gets really soft then we will have a rethink. He won at Larkhill in a good time and I am hoping he has a bit more improvement."
Sally Randell has entered impressive Cocklebarrow winner Barney Dawn and Cheltenam de Vaige from her Withington stables, near Andoversford, but says she is more likely to aim the pair at Kingston Blount the following weekend.
Southfield Theatre is another leading contender, who is also engaged at Larkhill and in a Fakenham hunters' chase on Friday. "Basically, we are looking for the best ground," said Letcombe Bassett trainer Sara Bradstock.
With clerk of the course John White reporting the going to be Good to Soft on Tuesday, the meeting, which gets under way at 11.30, has attracted a bumper 174 entries - the highest for any fixture this year.
Twenty-one are in contention for the Ten Years & Over Conditions Race over 3m 4f.
Azure Fly won in good style at Cocklebarrow, and is joint top-rated, although Bibury trainer Dibby Brown's charge has the option of going to Larkhill. Lotus Pond, a three-time course winner, is likely to improve on his seasonal return when third at Bangor-on-Dee last month for Mandy Bryan's Worthen Hall stables, near Shrewsbury. The Dapper Fox, another course winner, could represent Cullompton owner-trainer-rider Jack Veysey after finishing second to Sausalito Sunrise at Cocklebarrow. The Well Road was fourth that day, and his handler, Sam Jukes, said: "He stays all day, but obviously that was his first time at that distance and the ground went against him."
Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill has given Knight Bachelor an entry here and in the PPORA Club Novice Riders Conditions Race. This contest has 26 contenders headed by Master Dancer, a 10-length second to Silsol at Chipley Park for Cullompton handler Stuart Sampson, while Gingili was consistent in this class last term for Johnny Farrelly's Upper Twinhoe stables, near Bath.
Owner-trainer Tim Underwood has set his sights on taking the Sporting Agenda Vine & Craven Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race for a third successive year, this time with Miss Massey. Underwood sent out Timmie Roe and Golden Crisp from his Beedon stables, near Newbury, to take the last two runnings, and he believes his seven-year-old mare has a major chance of following up last month's Larkhill win. "Princely Player would be my danger against Miss Massey," he said. "Martin Oliver reckons she is the best horse I have ever had - he really rates her."
Meeting secretary Karen Hobbs trains Princely Player at East Garston, and she reported: "He is in really good form and has schooled well, so he is on target for it, but he likes the top of the ground."
Underwood also has Tinnehinch among the 13 entries, but his Irish import is more likely to tackle the Magee Equine Restricted. The 10-year-old split Risky Gold and Family Man in a tight finish at Cocklebarrow, and his handler feels he is ready to go one better, saying: "If he puts his best foot forward he will win."
Jukes is hoping Gottagottagetaway can build on last month's Buckfastleigh 15-length maiden success. "He is still very green," commented the trainer-rider. "He didn't really know what was going on when he hit the front."
The Jockey Club Estates Open Maiden has attracted the day's biggest entry of 34. Top rated is Shamilan, who has joined Julie Mansell's Hasfield yard, near Gloucester, after showing promise under rules for Tom George, including when sixth at Chepstow in October. Organised Solution, runner-up to Goldenbrave at Bangor-on-Dee, My Bobby Dazzler, second to Fedelta at Larkhill, and So Socksy, who found just Lady Sally too good here in December, would be other leading fancies.
Phil Rowley landed a division of the Flat Race last year with Bird On The Wire, making his two entries, Heeratsunset and Luke San, of obvious interest this time. Gearoid Costelloe's duo, Any Alibis and Indigo Breeze, are worth a market check after he claimed a similar contest last month with Grand Knight.
Rounding off the meeting is the inaugural running of the Barbury Castle Racing Staff Charity Race over 1m 2f on the Flat in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Open to any rider who works full time in a racing yard and has never held an amateur license or any license, it has attracted entries from the stables of Oliver Sherwood, Kim Bailey, Dai Williams, David Weston and Chris Gordon.
Also new is a dog show and a heated big tent, provided by Freddie Tulloch’s Outside Chance bar.
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