Dave Nevison: my top tips for Wetherby on Thursday

His last run in a similar event at Stratford has to be forgiven as a bad mistake three out put paid to his chance.

Greenrock Abbey is normally a good jumper and had won two of his four starts over fences before that run, so I am hoping he learns from that mistake and might still have upside in him.

He is lowered in grade and the opposition lacks in-form rivals. If he gets in a rhythm around Wetherby he should certainly go close. He ran a promising race in a novice handicap hurdle on similar ground to Thursday, so I am hopeful he handles the slightly quicker conditions.

This mare is clearly difficult to train and makes her first appearance for 441 days, so the booking of Brian Hughes certainly takes the eye.

Hughes has never ridden her before but takes over on a horse who was just run out of things close home the last time we saw her.

I am taking the view that Gillian Boanas will have got her as fit as possible for this reappearance late in the season and it would seem unlikely that she would book the champion jockey to give one a run around. Hopefully, I will not be wondering whatever happened to Baby Jane after three miles around Wetherby!

He seems to prefer Hexham but this plodder certainly looks capable of staying on for a place (several firms are offering five for each-way purposes) in this big-field handicap.

Event Of Sivola has struggled after he won a marathon at Hexham in the autumn but didn’t run badly when quietly backed on his latest start and has dropped back down to the mark he won off.

Just about every type of headgear has been applied in the past and blinkers will be worn this time. That should certainly sharpen him up as he stays on up the punishing Wetherby straight.

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