THE evidence of Towcester’s two opening autumn National Hunt fixtures strongly points to the conclusion that Worcestershire trainer Dr Richard Newland has his finger firmly on the pulse, as well as being tucked into a multitude of pies.
Dr Newland, a Cambridge University graduate whose title has genuine medical form, has saddled winners at both 2012/13 Towcester meetings to date, in the form of Royale Knight (in a chase) and Ardkilly Witness (over hurdles).
Despite the fact he is currently on course for being the country’s leading handler on a runner to winner ratio for the fourth year on the trot, he insists the equine angle to his busy lifestyle is simply a ‘hobby’.
Some hobby! On Monday, Dr Newland sent out his 26th scorer of the season in the form of novice chaser Act Of Kalanisi, despite the fact he is unable to stable more than a dozen horses at any one time at his Linacres Farm base at Claines, near Worcester, operating the type of rotation system of which any Premiership manager would be proud.
The good news for Towcester punters is that Dr Newland is veering towards completing a hat-trick of winners at the Northants track this Sunday when the action is due to get underway at 12.45pm. Hopes will be pinned on Dashing George in the 3m Brian O’Reilly Handicap Chase, the second contest on a seven race card.
Dr Newland said: “The horse is entered to run at Ascot on Friday and is also in at Haydock on Saturday. However, the more I think about it, the more I believe Towcester will be the better option. We are already tilting for two valuable pots at Haydock with Rowan Tiger and Bellflower Boy and Dashing George is also in a hot race there.
“The horse ran four weeks ago at Aintree where he was only beaten half a length and this was his first outing since being off for 18 months with a tendon injury. The handicapper has not put him up for that, and at present I would just like to see him win a race.”
Whether champion jockey Tony McCoy is available to ride Dashing George, as he did Royale Knight and Ardkilly Witness, remains to be seen.
However, there can be no disputing the fact Royale Knight continues on the upgrade despite the fact his four race winning streak (split over hurdles and fences) came to an end at Fontwell on Sunday and Dr Newland affectionately refers to him as ‘our own Hunt Ball’.
Meanwhile, Ardkilly Witness, who landed a 2m 5f novices’ hurdle at Towcester might return to the course’s next fixture a week on Saturday, December 1 when the action is due to get underway at 12.25pm.
COUNTY trainer John Upson will be hoping to strike at Towcester with Thefriendlygremlin who has plenty of Northamptonshire connections to his name.
The four year-old was bred by Harpole racing enthusiast Mick White, being by Vinnie Roe out of Queen’s Fantasy, and is owned by the Northampton-based The Nap Hand Partnership, who have had a sequence of runners with Upson over the years.
Thefriendlygremlin has been sixth in fields of 12 and 13 runners in two bumpers to date, and the plan is for him to take Sunday’s National Hunt flat race en route to a hurdling career.
Jockey Aidan Coleman got off the horse at Uttoxeter three weeks ago and confirmed his appreciation of the horse’s attitude, while the manner he stuck to his task at Towcester in April behind Seebright suggests he possesses the stamina to stay on up the hill.
IT is not unusual to see horses at Towcester veer from a straight line after the final obstacle, and the racecourse’s Winter Beer Festival on Friday November 30 and Saturday December 1 could cause the odd uncertain step among punters.
Around 30 real ales and 10 real ciders will have beer connoisseurs spoilt for choice on the Friday (5pm to 11pm) and then on the Saturday (10.30am-6pm), on a day when racing action is due to start at 12.25pm. Free entry and live music promise to add extra spice to the plot...
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