On a day when his father has a race staged in his memory, Greystoke trainer Nicky Richards will be especially keen to do well at his local Carlisle course tomorrow.
The son of legendary trainer, the late Gordon Richards, Nicky is proving himself a very able successor, and in Lord Jack, he has a horse of inifinite promise.
The seven-year-old goes for the featured £12,000 Ashleybank Investments Showcase Handicap Chase and is napped to win under the guidance of Brian Harding.
Three times a winner over fences last season and an excellent third in a hot race at Sandown, Lord Jack looks the type to progress again this winter. Despite the lack of a preparatory race, he should prove hard to beat.
Len Lungo has won the Gordon W. Richards Memorial Novices' Chase for the last three years, and the Carrutherstown trainer is fancied to make it four with Brooklyn Breeze.
Winner of a 'bumper' race at Aintree last November, Brooklyn Breeze went on to complete a hat-trick of successes in hurdle races to end the season unbeaten.
He looks an exciting recruit to the novice chase ranks and Lungo certainly holds him in high regard.
Ferdy Murphy is enjoying a good time of it at present and the Middleham trainer is fancied to strike with Riothamus in the EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier).
Successful last season in his only outing in a 'bumper' race, Riothamus made a winning debut over hurdles at Carlisle last month. He looks a useful horse in the making.
Sandy Forster, who trains a small string of horses on the Scottish Borders, has good prospects of a double at Carlisle.
Radar, a good second here at the beginning of the month, is fancied to land the Carlisle Raceclub 2004 Handicap Hurdle, while Star Trooper, a fairly consistent performer, gives Forster another sound chance in the Tabbron Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle.
At Uttoxeter, Lilium de Cotte should not be overlooked in the Box Telematics Beginners' Chase.
Formerly trained in France and now with Nicky Henderson, the four-year-old finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
A talented horse, he has the potential to go right to the top as a young steeplechaser.
Malton-born rider Andrew Tinkler rode a winner and survived a fall at Sedgefield yesterday. The talented teenager has good prospects with the consistent Golfagent in the Evans Property Group Handicap Hurdle.
Thursday's tips:
Carlise
12.15 Overstrand, 12.45 Kadoun, 1.20 Brooklyn Breeze, 1.50 Riothamus, 2.25 Lord Jack (Nap), 3.00 Radar, 3.35 Star Trooper.
Uttoxeter
12.25 Lalagune, 12.55 Orinocovsky, 1.30 Lilium de Cotte, 2.00 Ginner Morris, 2.35 Golfagent, 3.10 Deliceo, 3.45 Tollbrae.
Tomorrow's other meeting is at Taunton.
Updated: 12:11 Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article