Today we head for the rescheduled Ballymore novices meeting. In the opening maiden hurdle we have NEWBROOK DIAMOND who has some nice form and has first time cheekpieces on here to give him that bit extra. Jack Kennedy has been booked to ride.

CUMBERLAND RIVER earned his stripes the last day to get a 1 beside his name. He gets a penalty of 7lbs which we are claiming against with Carl Millar’s 2lbs claim which will hopefully leave him right here.

For the Grade 1 feature of the card we have CLASSICAL CREEK, KOVANIS and LORD ROUGE. Classical Creek looks a proper chaser for the future so to see him in Grade 1 company as a novice hurdler is a bonus. Jack Kennedy has opted for him. KOVANIS might be a bit out of his depths here but on ratings has every right, he’ll be ridden by Danny Gilligan. LORD ROUGE is relatively unexposed and this is a big step up in company for him having just won his maiden hurdle, Sam Ewing has been booked to ride.

The bumper has been moved up the card to give the chases the best chance of thawing out. HARTFORD is having his first start of his career in this 4yo bumper, where many of these are actually still 3yos. It is always a very open race and anything could happen.

We have two runners for the novice chase, KURASSO BLUE was a winner the last day and looks like he has plenty of improvement in him with Jack Kennedy booked to ride. PRENDS GARDE A TOI has plenty of experience and looks to be improving over fences. We claim off him with James Smith with 5lbs.

It’s a nice field for the mares beginners chase where we have NEON DIAMOND. This is her first start over fences and it will be a competitive one where she will gain valuable experience with Sam Ewing booked to ride.

Finally the card finishes on a handicap chase where we have GOLDEN JOY who has first time blinkers fitted. He probably needs to fall a bit further in the handicap to land a blow but he will have Jack Kennedy booked to ride.