TURPIN Green, highly rated by trainer Nicky Richards, can continue his climb up the steeplechasing ladder at Kelso tomorrow.
One of last season's leading novices over hurdles, Turpin Green, who carries the colours of Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings, has always been regarded as an aspiring chaser, and he created a big impression when winning on his debut over fences at Carlisle recently.
Going head-to-head virtually the whole way with the useful Rebel Rhythm, Turpin Green came out on top after a battle royal and earned himself a 16-1 quote for the Royal And SunAlliance Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March in the process.
Turpin Green will be very hard to beat in tomorrow's Paris Pike Novices' Chase over two-and-three-quarter miles.
Howard Johnson has his horses in excellent form now and the County Durham trainer is fancied to land both divisions of the gg.com Novices' Hurdle.
The well-regarded Turnstile lines-up in division one under Graham Lee, who will also be aboard nap selection Estopona, who looks particularly interesting.
Formerly trained by Julie Camacho at Norton, Estepona developed into a decent handicapper on the Flat and finished third on his latest start in the November Handicap at Doncaster.
He possesses the size and scope to make up into a smart hurdler and, provided he jumps well on his debut, he should take some beating.
Primitive Poppy makes plenty of appeal in the Eric Gillie Horse Transport 30th Anniversary Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old, a winner in the summer, returned to the fray at Wetherby recently and ran as though in need of the race when finishing unplaced to Brandy Wine. Sure to have benefited from that outing, she can do better this time.
At Warwick, Royal Corrouge, a former useful point-to-pointer, looks an interesting runner on his debut for top Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson in the Nick Rees 50th Birthday Beginners' Chase.
The gelding missed the whole of last season, but Henderson is a past master at getting horses fit enough to do themselves justice after a lay-off.
Sunday's tips
Kelso
12.20 Turnstile, 12.50 Primitive Poppy, 1.20 Turpin Green, 1.50 Donovan, 2.20 Rosie Redman, 2.50 Uneven Line, 3.20 Estepona (NAP)
Warwick
12.40 Nagano, 1.10 Royal Corrouge, 1.40 Ostrogoth, 2.10 Koqulicot, 2.40 From Dawn To Dusk, 3.10 Major Euro, 3-40 Principe Azzurro
Tomorrow's other meeting is at Southwell.
Updated: 09:01 Saturday, December 03, 2005
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