We have declared six runners over two meetings on Saturday. At Newcastle where we have four representatives it is currently soft, heavy in places, and down at Wolverhampton in the evening on the all weather the Tapeta is currently riding as standard.
Grange Ranger returned from 10 months off the track to win at Wetherby in November, but in two subsequent starts he has failed to get competitive, although on his penultimate start his jumping let him down, and on his latest start he scoped dirty post race. He goes in the 2.15.pm, in a 0-110 handicap chase, over two and a half miles, with Emma Smith-Chaston retaining the ride.
Geryville has finished runner up on both of his last two starts, at Market Rasen on Boxing Day he was second in Class 3 company, and then he backed that up with another runners up finish at the same track 39 days ago. He has been raised 5lb for those two efforts, and this return to a more galloping track is a plus. He goes to post for the 3.25.pm, a 0-135 handicap chase over two miles and seven furlongs, with the champion jockey Brian Hughes retaining the ride.
Le Grand Vert has shown nothing since arriving from France over a year ago. In four hurdles runs his mark had dropped by 22lb, and since he was last seen on Boxing Day he has undergone wind surgery. When trained in France he ran six times over fences, and was placed on three occasions. He runs in the 4.0.pm, a 0-100 handicap chase, over two miles and seven furlongs, with Conor O'Farrell on board for the first time.
Air Of Approval makes her racecourse debut at 5.07.pm, in the two miles bumper, where she will be partnered by Conor O'Farrell. Air Of Approval has two winning siblings, but both of those winners looked more about speed than stamina, and with her being by Matercraftsman out of a mare who did the majority of her racing at around a mile, this trip in these conditions could be a problem.
We also send two down to Wolverhampton for their evening card. Quoteline Direct reserves his best for this track, and when last seen 11 weeks ago he was a staying on third over this same track and trip, in what was a better race than this one. That was a Class 6 handicap, and he now tackles a 0-50 Classified Stakes, over the extended nine furlongs at 6.0.pm, with Aiden Brookes retaining the ride.
Myboymax always tries his best, and in 22 flat races since joining us he has won five times, and been second or third on a further 11 occasions. He goes to post for the 7.0.pm, a 0-95 handicap over 12 furlongs, with his regular jockey Aiden Brookes in the saddle. In the last two seasons Myboymax has run his best races over this trip, but I just get the feeling that a little bit further seems to suit him better these days.
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Good luck to the connections, Oakwood Rainbow, R M Howard, Richard Howard & Ben Howard, Mr G King, JFW Properties Ltd, and Anthony Bithell.
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