Beat The Edge is a horse that prefers to finish 2nd or 3rd rather than winning, his one success coming in a chase almost two years ago for his previous stable. He turns out again after Saturday's 2nd over the CD and this could be his day - at last.
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01/01/24 – 1st 5/4 – Diva Luna – Ben Pauling – Cheltenham
Very smart in bumpers last season, Diva Luna was a disappointing long odds-on favourite for her seasonal return and hurdles debut over 2m at Lingfield. She will be a different proposition we hope over an extra half mile on this course. Very hopeful.
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31/12/24 – 3rd 33/1 – Ghina Di Tacco – Fergal O’Brien – Uttoxeter
By Soldier Of Fortune out of a Kayf Tara mare, Ghina Di Tacco is a nice mare with a good attitude. Hoping for a solid run on her first appearance under any Rules of Racing.
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29/12/24 – 1st 9/4 – Hurlerontheditch – Kim Bailey – Doncaster
This is a three-horse race where we have an odds-on favourite to beat. Hurlerontheditch will need to have improved from Lingfield to beat him, but will try his best to do so.
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29/12/24 – 2nd 28/1 – Book Of Tales – Charlie Longsdon – Doncaster
Book Of Tales has been off for 15 months and is handicapped on his one winning hurdles run at Fontwell. Effectively, he's still a novice and meets these much more experienced opponents. It will be tough, but he has ability and is ready to run. Interesting.
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28/12/24 – 2nd 12/1 – C’Mon Kenny – Ian Williams – Southwell
Slow starts and mid-race surges have been the pattern for C'Mon Kenny the last twice, but with vastly different outcomes. If he can get away a little more alertly and make more stealthy headway, he could be very dangerous.
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28/12/24 – 2nd 13/2 – Beat The Edge – Micky Hammond – Catterick
Beat The Edge ran an excellent debut race for the stable when a running-on 2nd at Sedgefield. He is 8lb lower over fences than hurdles and I give him a great chance to add to his single win for previous connections early last year.
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28/12/24 – 1st 7/2 – Henry’s Friend – Ben Pauling – Newbury
Henry's Friend won three in a row last season and he showed he has continued to progress with a battling 5th in the Coral Gold Cup over this 3m2f last time. A repetition of that run would probably be good enough to resume the winning thread.
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27/12/24 – 2nd 18/1 – Green Team – Ian Williams – Wolverhampton
Green Team has been placed in five of his last six runs, including gaining an only place from five career AW outings. His consistency hasn't allowed any leniency from the handicapper, so we're probably going there with place more than win expectations.
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27/12/24 – 1st 10/1 – Finn Russell – Ian Williams – Wolverhampton
Finn Russell collected three AW wins last winter and added one on turf at Carlisle in the summer. He had a break after an unsuccessful trip to Downpatrick but came back with a whimper at Lingfield. He has had time to recover and we hope he is geared up for another fruitful winter, possibly starting…
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27/12/24 – RESULT 2ns 18/1 – Green Team – Ian Williams – Wolverhampton
Green Team has been placed in five of his last six runs, including gaining an only place from five career AW outings. His consistency hasn't allowed any leniency from the handicapper, so we're probably going there with place more than win expectations.
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26/12/24 – 3rd 18/1 – Samuel Spade – Ben Pauling – Kempton Park
Samuel Spade is probably our stronger candidate in this. He'll be ridden more positively and hopefully that will mean a better result. He should be in the three.
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26/12/24 – 1st 5/1 – Leader In The Park – Ben Pauling – Kempton Park
Leader In The Park was very disappointing last time out but I haven't lost faith, although we are slightly running out of options with him. He's a lovely horse and very well handicapped and I'm hoping more positive tactics will work.
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21/12/24 – 1st 15/2 – Gege Ville – Nicky Richards – Haydock
A couple of seasons ago we thought a lot of Gege Ville. He won his bumper nicely then got a leg which has held him back. We hope he gets a nice run around and is sound in the morning then we can go on from there.
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21/12/24 – 1st 12/1 – Fiercely Proud – Ben Pauling – Ascot
Fiercely Proud came from too far back when 6th in the Greatwood. We will ride him much handier today and hopefully get a big result. He deserves to win one of these.
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21/12/24 – 1st 9/1 – Crambo – Fergal O’Brien – Ascot
Crambo looks great and always goes well first time out., He won this last year but I think Strong Leader will take a lot of beating. He's done plenty of work and there's a lot more zest about his schooling than there has been in the past. Place chances.
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20/12/24 – 1st 7/1 – Naughty Niall – Ian Williams – Southwell
Naughty Niall has beaten only one rival in four runs back since a summer break. He needs to wake his ideas up.
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20/12/24 – 1st 4/7 – Hippocratic Oath – Brian Meehan – Wolverhampton
Hippocratic Oath missed the break last week at Kempton but ran on strongly for 2nd behind a useful Godolphin juvenile. He's 2lb well in as his new mark doesn't come into play until tomorrow. Big chance.
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18/12/24 2nd 13/2 – De Kingpin – Ben Pauling – Newbury
De Kingpin was 2nd in both his bumpers and was 3rd and then 5th in his two hurdle runs this year. I fear that form is not good enough to win a novice at Newbury. Place chances.
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18/12/24 – 1st 5/2 – Meetmebythesea – Ben Pauling – Ludlow
Meetmebythesea did well to make a winning debut around here and should improve. However, he could well have his work cut out to deal with The Kemble Brewery.
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