Thursday preview: Collonges shoots for the big pot in £22,400 feature at Ludlow

Calipso Collonges tackles three miles for the first time over fences in the grandly-titled Forbra Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.35), the £22,400 highlight of a seven-race card at Ludlow.

Trainer Olly Murphy has a 25 per cent strike-rate at the Shropshire track this season and his seven-year-old is back from a short break after scoring on his second chase outing at Uttoxeter in December.

Richard Johnson steered Calipso Collonges to a hard-fought win over Aintree My Dream that day and the pair combine again to step up in trip from 2m4f.

Prior to that success, Calipso Collonges underwent wind surgery last October which seems to have done the trick.

Murphy said: "We were pleased with how Calipso Collonges won at Uttoxeter and hopefully this step up to three miles can bring about further improvement. It looks competitive enough as it should be for the money."

The six-runner field has also attracted Uhlan Bute, who represents the Venetia Williams yard who have won this race twice in the last five years.

Greatwood winner Nietzsche back in business

Classy dual purpose performer Nietzsche reappears after undergoing a mid-winter wind operation in the opening Betway Live Casino Handicap (4.05) at Newcastle.

The Brian Ellison-trained six-year-old has been useful over jumps and on the Flat in recent years but has failed to win in three previous outings on the all-weather.

Prior to his surgery, Nietzsche enjoyed notable success on his penultimate outing when landing the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, but then was not sighted with a chance when only 17th in a similar event at Ascot the following month.

Nietzsche's last effort on the Flat was a close second at Newmarket in November where he enjoyed some give underfoot and he may well appreciate the Tapeta surface this time around.

Ellison said: "We were in a catch-22 situation with Nietzsche as we kept scoping him but the vets said he didn't need his wind doing originally. After he ran poorly on bad ground at Ascot we decided to go ahead and when they got inside him they found it wanted doing. "

Since his operation Nietzsche has bounced back to form and is using this as a return to the jumps. Ellison added: "The plan is to take him to Aintree after this prep run and beyond that he'll go chasing as he's a cracking jumper."

Midnight has first start in Qatar silks

Almost Midnight will sport the colours of Qatar Racing for the first time when he bids to extend his unbeaten sequence in the Ladbrokes Novice Stakes (4.40) at Newcastle.

The son of Siyouni was bought into by Sheikh Fahad's organisation after his impressive debut win over 1m4f at Kempton last month.

That form has since been boosted by runner-up Natsovia winning at Wolverhampton whilst third-placed Alpasu subsequently finished second at Lingfield.

David Simcock's runner, who is joined by stablemate Battle Of Pembroke in the eight-strong field, has a 7lb penalty to carry this time and drops in trip to 1m2f but looks sure to go off favourite against some suspect stayers.

Simcock said: "Almost Midnight is a progressive sort but coming back in trip isn't ideal. However, it will sharpen him up for the future and the plan is to give him a break after this and wait for the turf.

"Battle Of Pembroke is a nice horse who has been a late developer and won't be disgraced."

John Gosden, who has a fine record in these events, fields Forest Of Dean, who is up considerably in trip after finishing runner-up over 7f at Newcastle in November.

The trainer said: "Forest Of Dean is fine but his work rider says he wants this sort of trip so we'll see if he's right. There must be a doubt as he's by Iffraaj, but we'll soon find out."

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