New Tricks can work magic at Musselburgh

Published on Thursday 26 November 2009 23:00

NEW Tricks is fancied to lead his rivals a merry dance in the Weatherbys Printing Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Musselburgh this afternoon.

A solid enough performer on the Flat, the three-year-old has also gained plenty of allies on his two starts over hurdles. New Tricks, trained by Peter Monteith at Rosewell in Midlothian, has experience on his side, having caught the eye with a promising third behind Kind Heart on only his second outing over hurdles at Aintree last month.

He looks quite a decent recruit to the National Hunt game, especially when his Aintree form is factored into the equation, and ought to be up to winning this moderate race in the hands of Wilson Renwick.

Highlight of the seven-race card is the 12,000 Karen Thorburn Champagne Chase at 2.55. The consistent High Bird Humphrey will run his usual sound race but the pick of the weights has to be Cybora from the in-form Ferdy Murphy stable with the admirable Graham Lee in the saddle.

Cybora, who goes best in soft ground and finished an encouraging third at Haydock on his only previous outing of the autumn, scored over fences at Leicester at the corresponding time last season.

Punchestowns found just Big Buck's too good for him in the World Hurdle last year and is an exciting prospect as he makes his fencing bow at Newbury today.

The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old lines up in the Fullers London Pride Novices' Chase and must have every chance on his top-notch hurdling form.

A Grade One scorer over timber, Punchestowns signed off his hurdling account with that brilliant second-place at the Cheltenham Festival. Given his obvious talents over hurdles, the decision to send him chasing is therefore highly significant.

Henderson should have a good afternoon in Berkshire, where Pepsyrock is taken to win sportingbet.com Handicap Chase.