ENGLISH RACING: NICKY HENDERSON should be backed to continue his fine recent run when Clay Hollister lines up in Sandown's Blue Square Tolworth Hurdle this afternoon.
It is a massive step up for the JP McManus-owned gelding but he oozes class.Having won a Fontwell bumper on the bridle, Clay Hollister was expected to follow up in a much better event at Sandown just a week later.
However, he went wrong that day and was subsequently off the track for nearly two years. That did not stop him winning a novice hurdle as he liked on his first run over timber, though. While he might not have the form of some of the others, it could be worth taking a chance on him being top class.
Premio Loco is a confident selection in the William Hill January Sale - 0800 44 40 40 Conditions Stakes at Lingfield.
Chris Wall's vastly-improved five-year-old broke his maiden over a mile at this venue in April 2007, beating none other than subsequent Breeders' Cup Marathon winner Muhannak.
Having ended his three-year-old campaign rated 92, hopes were high that he could develop into a money-spinner for Wall.
After a sighter over six furlongs in May, he fairly bolted up at Kempton in July and followed up off a 7lb higher mark in September. He was strongly fancied for the Cambridgeshire but with doubts surrounding whether he was as good on turf as an artificial surface, he came home sixth but was not beaten far behind the surprise winner Tazeez.
Starting life this year off a mark of 109, a campaign in Dubai may await as long as he comes through this test with flying colours.
Feltham runner-up Massini's Maguire has an obvious chance in the Higos Insurance Langport Novices' Chase at Wincanton, while Tuxedo can bring home the hat-trick in the William Hill Telebetting Sale - Enhanced Favourites! Handicap at Kempton.
n Noel Chance is in no rush for Aux Le Bahnn to take on star novice hurdler Diamond Harry but a rise to Graded level is in order for his gelding following a simple victory at Folkestone yesterday.
Winners on the big occasion have been rare for the affable Lambourn trainer since the Gold Cup triumphs of Looks Like Trouble and Mr Mulligan and further progress will be required for the eight-year-old to figure at the Cheltenham Festival.
Aux Le Bahnn (evens favourite) was easy to back on the course for the Nigel Collison Fuels Novices' Hurdle but while he needed consistent attention from jockey Richard Johnson, he held Bally Sands by a comfortable two and three-quarter lengths. "He might go for the River Don at Doncaster," said Chance.
