New N.H. season starts today

Yesterday was the final day of the 2012-13 N.H. season, with Nicky Henderson and Tony McCoy crowned champion trainer and jockey respectively, but there is no rest for the weary and the new season begins today with 3 jumps meetings. McCoy is on the injured list, but Henderson is in action at Huntingdon, where he has runners in two races. In the main event, a 3 mile handicap chase at 18.05 CET, he saddles Triolo d´ Alene (Barry Geraghty), who failed to make the cut for yesterday´s big chase at Sandown, and Giorgio Quercus (David Bass). They both ran in the Topham Chase on Grand National day at SAintree last time, with the former winning nicely withz the latter unseating his rider when still going well. Giorgio is of course now better off at the weights and if he stays on his feet may make a race of it with his stable companion.

Paul Nicholls, for many years champion trainer before Henderson this time, has the major danger in No Loose Change (Daryl Jacob), up 11 lbs for making all to win easily at Kempton 12 days ago; Junior (David Pipe/ Conor O´Farrell) has top weight here. he has been running in good races -most recently the Irish Grand National- but without much success, and we do not believe he can concede 17 lbs+ to his opponents here. We expect Henderson to win this on the way to another championship. The trainer can also take the novice hurdle at 16.25 with Shernando (Geraghty), a decent flat horse who has already shown good form over sticks, and once again the main danger comes from the Nicholls stable in the form of McIlhatton (Jacob).

Nicholls has better prospects at Ludlow, where he can score with Oscargo (Harry Skelton) in the novoce chase at 15.40 and possibly Spock (Harry Derham) in the handicap chase at 16.45; however the latter is coming off a long break and CD specialist Cootehill (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) seems the more reliable option. We shall also be interested in the running of ex-German Aviso (David Evans/ Sam T-D) in the handicap hurdle at 16.15, he has become rather unreliable, but ran better on the flat at Wolverhampton last week and is now on a very tempting mark.

The most interesting race at Wetherby is the novice hurdle that opens the card at 15.00. Alan King and Wayne Hutchinson are having a good run and have the likely favourite here in Fair Trade, an easy winner at Wincanton a week ago. However he is penalised for that success and it is not certain that he can concede 7 lbs to Life and Soul (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) and Sea Lord (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Regan), who were both very useful on the flat.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Pollystone - Gulfport - Toubeera
2. Race: Mr Robinson - Overdante - See You Jack
3. Race: Mcllhatton - Now Then Charlie - Cappielow Park
4. Race: Kalucci - Keltic Rhythm - Knock House
5. Race: Haar - The Mad Robertson - Rajamand
6. Race: Triolo D`Alene - No Loose Change - Galway Jack
7. Race: City Press - Whistling Senator - Upton Mead