Twiston-Davies Mad for hurdling convert Calett's hat-trick bid

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m5f | 4yo+ | ITV4

This time last season Calett Mad looked a candidate to develop into a decent staying novice over fences and indeed ended up running in the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Festival.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has now embarked on a novice hurdling campaign – he finished in the money at Auteuil on all three starts over hurdles for Francois Nicolle – but this is no reflection on his jumping ability.

"He is quite harshly handicapped over fences and this is probably an easier route," said Twiston-Davies, who has sent the son of Axxos out to score at Perth and Cheltenham since making the switch.

"I’ve been very pleased with his two runs this year. He won very well at Cheltenham and I don’t think the drop back by half a mile should be a problem, he has plenty of pace."

The market looks set to side with one of the lightly-tried pair representing top connections – either On The Blind Side and Vision Des Flos.

On The Blind Side won his only pointing start at Kilfeacle and was then the second highest lot sold through the Tattersalls Ireland sale at Cheltenham last January.

Nicky Henderson sent the son of Stowaway to Aintree where he had the reopposing Aye Aye Charlie back in third.

"He did it well and it was a slowly-run race so he will be better-suited by this," said Henderson. "It is a huge step up in class but he is a lovely horse and the trip will play into his favour."

Vision Des Flos represents the Colin Tizzard and Potts family combination, having won the Goffs Land Rover Bumper for Robert Tyner at the Punchestown Festival in April.

"He is a horse we are learning about all the time," said Tizzard's son and assistant, Joe. "I think we’ll probably switch him off a bit more tomorrow because he ran with the choke out for two miles and still stayed on at Chepstow first time out. We’d like to teach him to learn to race but he is a very exciting young horse."

Vision Des Flos has a little over six lengths to find with Poetic Rhythm, who put the experience gained from a winless first season over hurdles to good use.

Vision Des Flos (yellow) won the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at PunchestownCredit: Caroline Norris

"I was absolutely delighted with him in the Persian War and it was great to get off the mark so early in a Grade 2," said trainer Fergal O'Brien.

"I know he’s got a [5lb] penalty but he is in good form, he’ll go on any ground and he likes Cheltenham, having won a Listed bumper round there. It’s a big ask but he’ll be doing his best and he is very straightforward."

O'Brien also runs Aye Aye Charlie, who he hopes can get closer to On The Blind Side than at Aintree.

"We think Aye Aye Charlie is a good horse but he is young and inexperienced," said O'Brien.

"He is Chase The Spud’s half brother and eventually we hope he will be a three-mile-plus chaser so the owners are quite happy to pitch him high and, if he is still a novice this time next year, it doesn’t matter. It’s good place money and definitely worth taking a chance."

It is difficult to assess the worth of Momella's bloodless victory at Fakenham last month but her very presence in the line-up suggests that Dan Skelton thinks plenty of her.

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