With winter conditions finally taking effect on the jumps season, Sky Sports Racing’s cameras head to Ffos Las and Hexham on Wednesday.
12.15 Ffos Las – Buckna takes on Admiral Stewart on hurdles debut
Warren Greatrex’s Buckna went under the hammer for £350,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point in March and makes an eagerly-anticipated debut under rules in the opener at Ffos Las, the Dandara Galwg Gwendraeth Maiden Hurdle (12.15).
That previous success, lofty price tag and in-form yard – three winners from the last 10 runners – should see Buckna well supported.
Admiral Stewart was strongly fancied on his bumper debut for Jamie Snowden at Hexham last month when finishing a nine-length second and it would be no great surprise to see him step up on that effort.
It has been 375 days since Walk On High was last seen on a racecourse but he now has a first-time hood applied and has had a breathing operation so he could be the each-way angle in this if fully wound up.
1.25 Ffos Las – Blue Las on a hat-trick for Mulholland
In the other maiden hurdle on the card, the Diplomat Hotel And Spa Maiden Hurdle (1.25), Neil Mulholland’s Blue Las returns on a hat-trick after winning a pair of bumpers at Southwell and Uttoxeter in April.
The daughter of Blue Bresil starts over two-and-a-half miles with star claimer Dylan Johnston in the saddle.
Andy Amo is making a fourth consecutive start at Ffos Las for Rebecca Curtis after finishing second to smart-looking type Rosscahill last month.
Of the others, Billy Aprahamian’s Stone’s Throw looks a potential danger under Gavin Sheehan after finishing a close third at Ludlow last time.
1.45 Hexham – Cadell the one beat for Russell
Hexham’s jumps card faces an early morning inspection for frost but should that survive we could see a nice novice chaser in Lucinda Russell’s puppy.
The six-year-old only had two to beat at Wetherby at the start of November but did it easily under Derek Fox and rates the one to beat in the Visit mybettingsites.com Ireland Novices’ Chase (1.45).
Reverend Hubert is one of two Irish raiders making the trip across the channel and has his sights lowered here for the shrewd outfit of the Charles Byrne yard.
The other Irish challenger comes from the John McConnell-trained No Time To Wait who bumped into the promising Firefox last time out and in receipt of 10lb from Reverend Hubert he could be the one to side with.
2.20 Hexham – Russell runs three in four-mile epic
Russell is responsible for a third of the nine entered in the B K Racing Long Distance Handicap Chase (2.20) over a stamina-sapping four miles.
Jack Power takes a very handy 7lb off of top-weight Destiny Is All who kept on well at Ayr last time and there could be more to come over this trip.
The consistent Jem In Em has now slipped down to a mark of 102 and, with the extra 5lb that Alan Doyle takes off, it would be no surprise to see him put in a big effort here, while Camp Belan completes the yard’s runners.
McConnell sends over Broken Ice who ran well off this mark of 109 when last seen over fences at Wexford and the unexposed eight-year-old could be very well handicapped.
Watch every race from Ffos Las and Hexham all live on Sky Sports Racing on Wednesday November 20.
