One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Saturday
Trainer
Following big-race success with Trueshan on British Champions Day last Saturday, Alan King takes the wraps off one of his jumping stars with Tritonic running in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2.55) at Cheltenham.
Tritonic was a main fancy for last season's Triumph Hurdle after an impressive success in the Adonis Hurdle, but he disappointed at Cheltenham and scoped badly afterwards.
The four-year-old has had two runs on the Flat since and will be bidding to bounce back over hurdles for King, who also sends out Inchicore in the Group 3 St Simon Stakes at Newbury (2.35).
Jockey
Ryan Moore has a strong book of six rides at Doncaster, headed by Vertem Futurity Trophy favourite Luxembourg (3.15).
The three-time champion jockey rode Saxon Warrior to win the Group 1 contest for Aidan O'Brien in 2017 and again teams up with the Ballydoyle trainer on ante-post favourite Luxembourg.
Moore has other fancied rides on Way To Win (1.30), Aaddeey (2.40), Deodar (3.50) and Areehaa (4.55), while Walhaan looks set to go off a single-figure price in the competitive 7f handicap (2.05).
Horse
The famous green, yellow and white colours of Trevor Hemmings will be seen on the racecourse for the first time since the legendary owner's death at the age of 86 last week.
It seems wholly appropriate that Cloth Cap should be the first to carry those silks as he was sent off favourite for last season's Grand National, a race Hemmings won three times with Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds.
Cloth Cap was pulled-up at Aintree in April but all roads lead back to the National with the first step coming in the 3m1f handicap chase at Cheltenham (2.20), while last season's Cheltenham Festival winner Vintage Clouds also carries the Hemmings silks at Kelso in the 3m2f handicap chase (3.19).
Race
The last Group 1 of the British Flat season takes place at Doncaster with the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (3.15) always a rich source of pointers towards next year's Classics.
The last four winners of a race formally known as the Racing Post Trophy – Saxon Warrior, Magna Grecia, Kameko and Mac Swiney – have gone on to Classic glory the following season.
Aidan O'Brien seeks a record-equalling tenth victory with the exciting Luxembourg, who took his unbeaten record to two when recording an easy win in the Beresford Stakes last time.
The short-priced favourite faces some classy opposition in Royal Patronage, who beat the exciting Coroebus in the Royal Lodge, and Bayside Boy, a course winner in the Champagne Stakes at the St Leger meeting.
Read more:
2021 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster: the runners, the odds, the verdict
'Four went on to run in Grade 1s' – five pointers at Cheltenham on Saturday
Here are three trainers to watch out for at Cheltenham this weekend
The jumps season is here! Grab your copy of The Big Jump Off, our 72-page guide to the 2021-22 National Hunt season, from the Racing Post shop or from independent newsagents and many Co-Ops now. It contains a wealth of unbeatable content including ante-post tips, guest columnists, divisional analysis and much more. Don't miss out.
Published on 22 October 2021inNews
Last updated 14:09, 22 October 2021
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