TRIPLE Gold Cup-winning owner Jim Lewis will jet back from Tenerife to see Breedsbreeze make his debut over fences at Bangor today.
Lewis, who owned Cheltenham hero Best Mate, returns to Midlands home from holiday and will travel straight to North Wales to see the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old – who won the Tolworth Hurdle last season – make his first start over the big obstacles in the Anderson & Co. Solicitors Bright Future Novices’ Chase.
Sam Thomas rides and he will faces eight rivals, including another interesting chasing debutant in Donald McCain junior’s Rightway Star in the extended2m4f contest.
Lewis said: “I certainly will be there. We will land at about 12.30 tonight, all being well. The horse is doing very well. I spoke to Paul Nicholls this morning and he said he schooled well yesterday with Sam Thomas and we are just hoping for a good run.
“He has won point-to-points so you’d expect him to take to chasing all right.”
Breedsbreeze is a best-priced 20-1 chance for the two-mile Arkle Trophy and 25-1 for the Royal & SunAlliance over and extended three miles at the Cheltenham Festival, Lewis added: “It’s very early days, but it really is a question to determine whether he’s a two-miler or a two-and-a-half mile plus horse. With his breeding and his build you’d have to think that he’ll finish up a staying chaser. It’ll be worth coming home for.”
Stable-mate Star De Mohaison may return to action following injury over brush hurdles at Haydock on Betfair Chase day on November 22.
Ogden’s two other chasing stars Alan King’s Voy Por Ustedes and the Jonjo O’Neill’s Exotic Dancer are both set to make their seasonal debuts in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree later this month.
Donald McCain’s Cloudy Lane may also line-up with the Cheshire-based trainer eyeing another crack at the John Smith’s Grand National with his eight-year-old, who won three times last season before finishing sixth in the Aintree showpiece. McCain said: “Obviously everything is going to be a bit more difficult for Cloudy Lane this season because of his rating. He took to Aintree well so there is no reason why he shouldn’t go back for the National. He could well turn up in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and obviously, it is two and a half miles, but we’re rated 159 and we have to go somewhere.
“We’re hoping to go for the Hennessy Gold Cup.”
WEEKEND NAPS: TODAY: Cute Ass (3.15pm Musselburgh). TOMORROW: Wrighty Almighty (5.35pm Bath).
