Old Guard out to take advantage of dry autumn in West Yorkshire Hurdle

3.15 Wetherby
bet365 Hurdle (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)| 4yo+ | 3m | RUK

Ground on the firm side of good has ruled out the fancied Wholestone but will enhance Old Guard's prospects, according to trainer Paul Nicholls.

Old Guard started the season with a solid second behind Verdana Blue over two miles at Kempton last month.

Nicholls said: “I’ve always had this race in mind for him due to the dry autumn. He’ll come on for the prep run at Kempton – two miles was too sharp for him but he stayed on strongly and I’m sure three miles on this ground is made for him. I’m hopeful of a good run."

Another interesting runner is the Warren Greatrex-trained Keeper Hill, whose jumping issues over fences in the spring took the sheen off what had been a promising season up to that point.

“He had a problem with his spine and we think that may have impacted his jumping,” Greatrex said. “We've got those issues sorted out now but I wanted to start him over hurdles nonetheless.

“Saturday will tell me a lot about what route to take with him – in any case he’s very well.”

The five-runner field is completed by Monbeg Theatre, Nautical Nitwit and High Secret. Clyne also misses out because of the ground.

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