Malton Grand National hope re-emerges at Wetherby (From Gazette & Herald)

Malton Grand National hope re-emerges at Wetherby

11:48am Saturday 6th February 2010

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Malton’S big Grand National hope Character Building is set to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance at Wetherby this afternoon as he begins his crucial countdown to Aintree on April 10.

Trained by John Quinn, Character Building was one of last season’s favourites for the Merseyside showpiece after winning the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but he met with a training setback and was forced to miss the race.

The Norton gelding makes his seasonal debut today, not over fences, but over the smaller obstacles in the totesportgames.com Handicap Hurdle.

Although fences bring out the best in him, Character Building did win over hurdles last term and is no mean performer at this discipline.

It would be no surprise if he wasn’t at his absolute best today, but he is a class horse and he is not one to dismiss lightly, particularly with an eye to the future. Dougie Costello has the mount.

The £30,000 totesport.com Towton Novices’ Chase is the richest race on the card and Knockara Beau is taken to have the measure of the hat-trick seeking Weird Al.

Trained by George Charlton, Knockara Beau, a high-class performer, has already won three times over fences this season and, although no match for the brilliant Diamond Harry at Haydock last time, he finished a brave second. He can go one better in this valuable contest.

In the totesportcasino.com Handicap Chase, Bible Lord is taken to get his career back on track on a course where he won a Listed handicap in October.

Since then, he has fallen and unseated his rider in his two outings. Provided his jumping holds-up, this classy horse should run a big race under Nick Scholfield.

Also worth noting at Wetherby are the Peter Niven-trained Wednesday’s Boy (1.15), a Market Rasen winner last time out for Malton owner, Michael Paley, and the promising Monogram (1.45), whose only outing to date was a winning effort in a bumper at Kelso.

At Musselburgh’s classy card tomorrow, Brian Ellison saddles Ultimate in the £30,000 John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle.

A runaway winner at Huntingdon on his debut before finishing a creditable fourth at Cheltenham, where he pulled-off a shoe, Ultimate is held in high regard by Ellison, who feels that a sharp track may suit this gelding best of all.

That being the case, he should take plenty of beating here. From a stable in form, he is awarded the nap vote.

Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson is a rare visitor to Musselburgh, but he will surely be present tomorrow when he saddles a whole host of fancied runners.

Henderson could enjoy a field-day with Candy Creek (1.30), Lord Ragnar (2.00), The Polomoche (3.00) and Eradicate (3.30) all looking to have very strong chances. Irish ace Barry Geraghty rides the entire quartet.

Racing selections

Wetherby (Today).

1.15 Wednesdays Boy, 1.45 Monogram, 2.20 Bible Lord, 2.50 Knockara Beau, 3.20 Character Building, 3.55 Robbers Glen, 4.25 Islamouth.

Today’s other meetings: Doncaster, Lingfield and Sandown.

Musselburgh (Tomorrow).

1.30 Candy Creek, 2.00 Lord Ragnar, 2.30 Ultimate (NAP), 3.00 The Polomoche, 3.30 Eradicate, 4.00 Striking Article, 4.30 Tale Of Tanganyika.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Fontwell, Southwell.

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