Willoughby Court hopes for a lucky dip at Cheltenham for New Year's Day 2018
Channel: Trend Now
Date: 01/01/2018

Take the exciting WILLOUGHBY COURT (Cheltenham, 1.25) to make it the joy of six in the BetBright Dipper Novices' Chase.

Ben Pauling's seven-year-old hasn't been totally convincing over fences, but there were signs at Newbury last time he is learning on the job.

A ragged round of jumping at Huntingdon on his seasonal bow left Willoughby Court requiring all his battling qualities to retain an unbeaten sequence which stretches back 12 months, five races and includes the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

If Willoughby Court's critics have found fault with his jumping, then goodness knows what they have made of Yanworth's.

Yanworth fell on his return at Exeter, but it was his lack of fluency at Newbury which was disconcerting.

In the circumstances, he did well to finish within three lengths of Willoughby Court, but I am happy to stay loyal to his conqueror.


There have been stronger renewals of the Relkeel Hurdle than Monday's, but that won't matter to in-form trainer Fergal O'Brien if COLIN'S SISTER (Cheltenham, 3.10) prevails.

Bottomless ground shouldn't inconvenience the West Yorkshire Hurdle winner. Colin's Sister has already beaten Wholestone this season, while Old Guard may not be truly effective over this trip on very deep ground. If there is to be a surprise then Anteros, who wears a visor for the first time, may provide it and he could reward a fun each-way bet.

The nap is SAMOVAR (Southwell, 12.35), who displayed speed over seven furlongs in a race he couldn't seriously win last time and should appreciate a drop in trip. 

Connections add the headgear for the first time on Monday.
WILLOUGHBY Court can begin the new year with an almighty bang by winning the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Ben Pauling's inmate made boundless progress at Newbury last time out and looks to have an awful lot going for him in this Grade Two over an extended two and a half miles.

Having won the Neptune Novices' Hurdle at the Festival last season, much was expected of him on his chasing debut at Huntingdon in early November.

He won that day, but most certainly did not impress everyone, having shown a worrying tendency to jump markedly to his left.
Little wonder, then, that there were plenty of punters perfectly willing to take him on in a Grade Two at Newbury.

His critics had miscalculated the situation, though, as Willoughby Court was revitalised back on a left-handed track and jumped neatly to account for Yanworth by three lengths.