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Fahey colt Charming Kid out to book his Good Friday spot

Charming Kid: 'He'll need to be on his A game'
Charming Kid: 'He'll need to be on his A game'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

You know the All-Weather Championship Finals day is a big draw when a Group 2-placed colt turns up at Kempton just three days after his third birthday.

Charming Kid, who finished third behind subsequent National Stakes winner Advertise in the July Stakes at Newmarket last summer, is among eight runners in the latest fast-track qualifier (4.20) for the lucrative Good Friday card.

He was sixth on his return from a four-month break at Wolverhampton four weeks ago, but trainer Richard Fahey said: "He probably needed that run, the problem with these qualifiers is there are not many options and I had to run him when he wasn't quite wound up.

"I hope he'll have come on for that and I expect him to run a good race. But he'll need to be on his A-game, it's a tough race."

The field have won 16 times between them, with Sunsprite bidding for a fourth success on his first outing since August.

"He did well over the summer, winning three consecutive races and then he was a good third when stepping up to Listed company at Ripon," said trainer Richard Hughes.

"On that occasion, he finished just over a length behind Sporting Chance, who has gone on to decisively win a Group 3 in France, and the sixth horse, Kessaar, subsequently won both the Sirenia Stakes and Mill Reef Stakes.

"The switch to the all-weather should be fine and we are looking forward to the race."

Menzies closing in on 100 club

Rebecca Menzies hopes to nudge closer to her century when Nortonthorpelegend makes a quick reappearance at Wetherby in the Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase (2.55).

She has trained 97 winners, Flat and jumps, since taking out a licence in 2013 and is keen to reach three figures.

"It would mean a lot as it's a good milestone," Menzies said. "This jumps season has been brilliant. We're definitely up on quality and we've already broken our prize money record - let's hope we can keep it going through 2019."

Nortonthorpelegend was winner number 96 when scoring by a comfortable six lengths at Catterick last week and carries a 7lb penalty, though in-form Aaron Anderson claims 5lb as he bids to land his third win since Boxing Day.


Watch Nortonthorpelegend win last week


Menzies said: "Nortonthorpelegend is very fresh and well, and this looks another good opportunity for him. He's gone up 10lb so he's well in.

"He'll love the ground and Aaron is in great form at the moment. The horse takes a bit of knowing but he's ridden him a bit at home so I hope he'll get a good tune out of him."

Brother of Vintage Clouds out to replicate sibling success

Rare Clouds has something to live up to when he makes his debut in the familiar Trevor Hemmings colours in the bumper at Wetherby (3.30).

The five-year-old is a brother to the same owner's Vintage Clouds, who won a bumper here in January 2015 and has since become a smart chaser, reaching a place in the Welsh and Scottish Grand Nationals last year.

Rare Clouds is the younger brother of dashing grey Vintage Clouds
Rare Clouds is the younger brother of dashing grey Vintage Clouds (above)Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"All is going nicely with Rare Clouds," the pair's trainer Sue Smith said on Thursday. "He's a very green horse and it will be a learning curve for him.

"He's very similar to Vintage Clouds, perhaps a little bit cheekier - but that's probably because he's younger. So far so good, we like him a lot."

Halford targets glory at Dundalk

Michael Halford will be hoping to begin 2019 in the same fashion he signed off on last year at Dundalk.

A dominant force at the venue in recent seasons, Halford makes his way to the County Louth track with a typically strong hand, with recent course winners Lady De Vesci and Ahlan Bil Zain spearheading his challenge.

Lady De Vesci, who tackles the 1m4f handicap (7.00), is up 5lb for her C&D win last month but Halford reports the improving six-year-old to be in good form ahead of the repeat bid.

He said: "She’s been doing really well and has been making steady progress. It’s the first time she’ll be taking on this calibre of horse and we’ll learn more from it, but she’s in great form and is entitled to take her chance."

Half an hour earlier, Ahlan Bil Zain will tackle the 7f handicap (6.30), and Halford provided an upbeat bulletin on the previous winner.

He added: "He got his act together with the blinkers on him for the first time when he last ran, and this is a similar race again but John Feane’s horse [Billyfairplay, who won a 6f handicap by over eight lengths at Dundalk last time] looked good the last day.

"It’ll be interesting to see if the penalty stops him or not, but our fella has been in good form and he’s been training well since his win."


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David CarrReporter

Published on 3 January 2019inPreviews

Last updated 17:44, 4 January 2019

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