Snow and freezing weather have played havoc with race meetings in the UK and Ireland and this weekend is no exception.
Racing at Kempton, Warwick and Wetherby have all had to be abandoned on Saturday, with the only National Hunt meeting taking place at Ffos Las.
Saturday’s National Hunt meeting takes place at Ffos Las (Pic – Ffos Las Racecourse on FB)
The Welsh track hosts an eight-race card on soft ground, the highlight being the Gr2 Dragonbet Towton Novices’ Chase (15h15), run over two and a half miles.
Seven progressive sorts contest the £22,780 first prize, with the Ben Pauling trained top-weight Handstands catching the eye.
Penalised for securing a Group 2 at Sandown early last month, the lightly raced six-year-old was well on top at the line, three and half lengths too good for the smart Resplendent Grey.
Three of his wins have come on soft ground, including last season when claiming the scalp of the very highly thought of Jango Baie at Huntingdon.
His jumping was very slick at Sandown last time out and he stayed the three miles strongly. While this is a drop in trip, stamina will surely come into play at this testing track.
The Skelton stable is represented by the mare Cherie d’Am who receives a handy 7lb from the selection. She should give him most to think about.
On Sunday, weather permitting, it may be worth tuning in at 16h25 to view the Gr2 Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurde at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins usually targets this race with one of his better novices, and this year looks no different. The champion trainer saddles the top two in the market in a field of six. The JP McManus owned Kel Histoire was a comfortable three-length winner at Cork last month. He looks very useful.
However, all eyes will be on his stable companion Salvator Mundi. Sixth in the Gr1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last season whilst still a maiden, he followed up at Tipperary in May scoring by 62-lengths!
Paul Townend retains the ride on the Joe Donnelly owned five-year-old who is ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
