Keen amateur Maxwell relishing Wincanton rides, especially on 'total monster'

David Maxwell, basking in what he reckoned were 20C temperatures in London on Tuesday, hopes the sun shines on him at Wincanton, where he has three rides on Wednesday.

An enthusiastic amateur rider, Maxwell is a property investor by day and partnered nine winners from just 33 rides last season.

With six on the board for this term, he is keen to better that tally.

His rides include Chef D'Equipe in the 2m4f handicap chase (2.50), Big Bang De Loire in the other 2m4f handicap chase on the card (4.30) and Monsieur Gibraltar in the hunter chase (5.00).

"Chef D'Equipe is a lovely horse, but pulls like a train and I've been learning how to ride him. I don't know how well he is at his mark, but he's very nice and might be one to improve if he had a better jockey!" Maxwell joked.

"I'll probably go hunter chasing with him later, but we'll run in some handicaps first. Big Bang De Loire was rated a lot higher in France and could come on for the run.

"Monsieur Gibraltar, on the other hand, should have a good chance. He's another nice horse who will like the decent ground. It's be between him and Risk A Fine in that race I think."

Asked which horse he was most looking forward to riding, the 40-year-old, who won a Grade 3 chase at Auteuil in November, added: "Chef D'Equipe – he's one of my favourite horses. He's a total monster and one of the best jumpers I have – he's savage."

Verdana Blue (near side) gets up on the line to beat Buveur D'AirCredit: Edward Whitaker

All-weather prep for Champion Hurdle hope Verdana Blue

Presenting Percy might be having an unusual preparation for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup and you could hardly call running in a 1m4f novice on the all-weather at Kempton an orthodox path to the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

But that is what classy mare Verdana Blue – who beat stablemate and Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D'Air in the Christmas Hurdle – does on Wednesday evening (6.30).

However, connections have fancy plans after the Champion Hurdle, namely a race at Lingfield on All-Weather Finals Day on Good Friday, which the daughter of Getaway still needs to qualify for.

"She missed the qualifier I wanted to run her in because of the flu outbreak," said trainer Nicky Henderson.

"That would have been the ideal way to go, but she's running tomorrow because there'll still be time to give her another race after the Champion Hurdle to qualify for Good Friday."

Champion jumps trainer Henderson also runs Twist, last seen winning at Lingfield in December, and added: "He came to me as a bumper horse, but he's by Invincible Spirit and when I ran him in a bumper he got lapped.

"He did win when we put him back on the all-weather and he's running in this because he needs a third run to qualify for handicaps."

Tony Carroll: gives Mister Music a fighting chanceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mister win would be music to Carroll's ears

The richest race of the day is Southwell's 7f handicap (4.10), which Tony Carroll would love to win with course ace Mister Music.

A ten-year-old son of top-class middle-distance performer Singspiel, Poppy Bridgwater's mount is four from four at the Nottinghamshire circuit.

"He loves the track and is back at the scene of his crimes," said Carroll.

"He's not getting any younger, but loves the place so wouldn't be without a little sporting chance.

"In all fairness to him, he's been in good form away from Southwell since his last visit and appears in good nick, so you'd hope he'd run very well."

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