Bryony Frost is back in Britain and a leading Cheltenham Festival fancy has his warm-up - punting pointers for Saturday
Punting pointers for some of Saturday's meetings. . .
Naas: leading Cheltenham fancy has his prep run
Its On The Line dramatically took the 3m1f hunter chase (4.50) on the card a year ago and he bids to score in it again and set up a revenge mission at next month's Cheltenham Festival.
The eight-year-old is one of the leading lights of the division and he held on to win this by a head from a remarkably fast-finishing Billaway last year. He then went on to be nabbed himself by Sine Nomine in the St James' Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase.
He put that behind him when winning the Aintree and Punchestown hunter chases and finished fourth on his return at Down Royal last month.
He is the 5-2 favourite for the Cheltenham contest next month and his price could shorten if he is successful in this.
Annamix, who has switched from Willie Mullins to Stephen Carey, reopposes in the nine-runner contest, while Big Interest and Ontheropes bring winning form to the table.
Naas: festival focus
Three Cheltenham Festival winners since 2019 have won the 1m7½f rated novice hurdle (1.20). Three runners this year have a festival entry, Kurasso Blue, Bacchanalian and Murcia.
Newcastle: Gosdens unleash a royal runner
John and Thady Gosden are not shy to unleash a smart newcomer at Newcastle and have a royal debutant in the north east with Warrant Holder.
Enable famously made her debut at the track before going on to great things and this three-year-old has his first run for the King and Queen in the mile maiden (6.00).
Warrant Holder, who was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, is a son of Frankel out of Diploma, who won at Listed level during her racing career. He is also a half-brother to various winners including Portfolio and Educator.
If he is successful, he would give the Gosdens their first winner of 2025 at the fifth attempt and is their only runner on the card.
Uttoxeter: Frost makes flying visit from France
Bryony Frost is back in Britain for the first time this year and she will be hoping to make a successful flying visit for former boss Paul Nicholls on the card.
The multiple Grade 1-winning jockey is now based in France, where she is a retained rider for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, but she has made fleeting visits to Britain this season with six rides since November, which have yielded a winner.
She has three rides on Saturday as she bids to add to that tally, starting with Histrionic, who finished fourth at Warwick last month, in the opening 2m7½f novice hurdle (1.03).
Frost then partners Brave Kingdom in the feature 3m handicap chase (2.48). He returned from a lengthy absence when third at Ascot in December. Her final ride is in the 2m4f handicap hurdle on Don't Tell Su (3.23), who aims to get back to winning ways after three runner-up efforts in a row.
Uttoxeter: trainer's happy hunting ground
Olly Murphy is 14-55 (25 per cent strike-rate) at the course this season. He saddles Hourvari (3.23)
Wolverhampton: Headshot aiming for another target
Tony Carroll is operating at a 21 per cent strike-rate (12-56) at the track this year and holds a strong hand on the card as he bids for more success.
The Worcestershire-based trainer saddles veteran Poetic Force in the 1m½f amateur jockeys' handicap (4.40) and last-time-out winner Autumn Rose in the 7f handicap (6.45), but his strongest chance of victory comes with course-and-distance winner Headshot in division one of the 1m½f classified stakes (7.15).
The seven-year-old ran out a short-head winner over Cherry King 11 days ago and will attempt to follow up off a mark 7lb higher under Hollie Doyle.
Three of his four career victories have come on the all-weather, and Carroll said: "He's in good form and it looks as though he's fallen into the right race again. He's only what he is, but this looks another good opportunity and I'm pleased with where he's at.
"Autumn Rose won there the other day and would have a nice chance, and everyone is in really good form."
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