20 November 2009 Ex-Pointers Round-Up: 20/11/09
by Weatherbys Chase Staff
NOAKARAD DE VERZEE: Runs at Ascot
photo: Jackie Oliver
Many people have been waiting for Vico to make his Rules debut after his wins in a Maiden at the New Forest and a Restricted at the Berkeley last season, and despite his defeat at the hands of the Philip Hobbs-trained Triggerman in the Blackmore Building Contractors Novices' Hurdle at Wincanton on Thursday he shaped with plenty of promise on his first run for Paul Nicholls.
At one point Mark Tincknell's gelding, a five-year-old by Old Vic, looked the likely winner as he took the lead towards the last turn, but signs of inexperience showed soon after and eventually Christian Williams' mount finished second-best in a battle with Triggerman and Richard Johnson.
Plenty of ex-Pointers are entered for the weekend ahead, starting with Knighton Combe, Flaco and Noakarad De Verzee in the BAM Construct Novices' Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday. The former, having been in the care of John Dufosee last season but now with Jamie Snowden, was in good form in six Points and successful in a Hunter Chase last season before winning a Novices' contest, whilst Noakarad De Verzee, himself a Hunter Chase winner in May, ran well to finish third on his subsequent return to Rules racing at Chepstow in October.
Flaco, a half-brother to Character Building, won a Maiden at the Middleton meeting in 2008 in good style and has since finished fourth on both starts in Novice Hurdles.
Kisha King has already registered two wins under Rules for Dai Rees since winning four of his Point-to-Points last season, and was running well when falling at Wetherby last time out; he reverts to hurdles at Huntingdon.
Fiddlers Reel ran with huge promise in his first bumper last week when finishing second, and he makes a quick return at Haydock, running in the Betfair Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
On Sunday Craiglands, who joined Jim Goldie after Hunter Chase success at Cheltenham and has run creditably on all three subsequent starts, including when second to Frankie Figg at Aintree last time, returns to that track to take on the Grand National fences in the Totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase. Should he pass the post first on Sunday he will complete a hat-trick of victories in the race for the trainer, who sent out Lampion Du Bost and Endless Power to win in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Also on Sunday, Master Overseer contests the Weatherbys / Northampton Town Football Club Handicap Chase at Towcester, having displayed plenty of stamina in a season between the flags that saw him win and also run second to Kingscliff. With one of his victories whilst in the care of Ashley Farrant coming over four miles, the 3m110y trip should hold no fears for him as he returns for previous trainer David Pipe.
Towcester will also be the next target for Paktol Des Brosses, who will contest the Handicap Hurdle, whilst Cuckoo Lane and Memories of Gold contest the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Cuckoo Lane contested Maidens at Bishops Court and Larkhill, finishing fifth at the latter, whereas Memories of Gold enjoyed a more successful campaign when winning a Mares Club Members Maiden and following up in a Restricted, both at Garnons, before running creditably in Hunter Chases in 2008.
