Midweek Turf Talk - Wednesday November 2nd 2011

National Hunt fixtures have now begun to step up a notch in terms of class with some of the stars of last season reappearing and others moving rapidly up through the ranks, bumper winners elevating to hurdles and hurdlers to chasing. All of which provides fascinating sport.

The Charlie Hall Chase provided a real kick-start to the jumping campaign, however the flat season is not finished with yet and Nottingham put a decent looking spread of maidens and handicaps on Thursday. We’ll begin with a look at the first race, the 1.30, where KEY APPOINTMENT looks to improve on his only previous start, a good third in a maiden at Haydock on heavy ground.

The Pivotal colt looks sure to appreciate the ground, which is listed as good to soft, and the form of his maiden run looks solid enough, he finished behind a good Godolphin horse and a Sheikh Hamdan horse that has since run well. The Hay family have spent a lot on good two year olds this season, and this horse could be another potent weapon in their armoury.

The conditions race at 2.30 looks to have attracted some nice types with versatile horses such as Hung Parliament, Sarrsar and the improving Hot Rod Mamma all scheduled to compete. The class horse in the race however is the group and listed winning KING TORUS for the Richard Hannon yard.

On official ratings he has minimum of 3 lbs in hand on the field. Under ideal conditions, a mile on softish ground, against inferior opposition, it should be like taking candy from a baby for the Oratorio colt!

We switch countries and codes now and go to Chepstow where MERRION SQUARE looks to have a fantastic chance of taking the 1.15, a maiden hurdle. In the colours of the Stewart family, the new recruit to the Nicholls yard is related to a smart chaser, and that will surely be where his longer term future lies. He won a point to point at Lemonfield in Ireland in March, and could be easily be good enough over hurdles to take this..

Another switch now, however still in the realm of juvenile hurdles, sees GUARDS CHAPEL look to have a terrific chance of notching up his second hurdle win, although has a 7 lb penalty to defy in the process. He was quite disappointing on the flat, yet made a mockery of the form when winning under trainer’s son Joshua, who took 5 precious pounds off.

He looks to take his tally to 2 for 2 at Warwick, and seems to have plenty in hand, irrespective of the penalty. The only threat comes in the form of the John Mullins trained High Samana, a 3 year old son of High Chaparral. Like Guards Chapel, he was modest on the flat but ran a good second in his maiden hurdle at 20/1. He might fill the placings with Easydoesit.

1.30 Nottingham Key Appointment

1.15 Chepstow Merrion Square

2.30 Nottingham King Torus

2.10 Warwick Guards Chapel (Nap)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner