The brilliant staying hurdler Thistlecrack will make his much anticipated chase debut at Chepstow today.

The Colin Tizzard-trained eight-year-old possesses a phenomenal engine and few before him have been as impressive in staying hurdles events.

If everything goes according to plan this season, he will attempt in March to become the second novice in three years to win the world’s most prestigious chase, the Gr 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A novice had not won the Gold Cup for 40 years before Coneygree did it in 2015.

Unsuitably quick ground forced Tizzard to scrap his original plan to launch the reigning World Hurdle champ over fences early this month.

His participation today was also in question.

Tizzard said midway through last week, “If the ground is right we are going to go. He schooled again today and he is ready to go, but who knows what the ground is going to be like? If that doesn’t work out, he will have an entry at Wetherby.”

Thistlecrack has duly been declared with his regular pilot Tom Scudamore aboard. The rain which fell in Chepstow recently would have helped, although the ground remains good. Thistlecrack won all five races last season, including three in Gr 1 company.

The race, a Novices’ Chase over 2 miles-7 furlongs-and-131 yards, takes place at 4.35pm South African time today and will be aired on Tellytrack.

David Thiselton

Alec Laird’s Facebook page confirmed today (Oct 24) that 2016 Met winner Smart Call will not feature at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup (Nov 4-5).

“We regret to update that Smart Call will no longer be taking part in the Breeders’ Cup.  Unfortunately she has not had enough time to heal properly. The original injury has shown signs of flaring up again and it’s apparent she hasn’t had enough time for the muscle/ligaments to heal. The California dream is therefore on hold. She will recuperate through the winter with the plan to target some races next year. If all goes well next year, then we will once again consider the Breeders’ Cup.”

Richard Fourie returns at Kenilworth on Wednesday, a fortnight after that crashing fall on the ill-fated Rock Stewart at Durbanville, but he is no longer first-choice jockey for Justin Snaith.

The all-powerful Snaith Racing team has provided the 30-year-old with 27 of the 32 winners he has ridden this season but he is down to ride only one of the 43 horses it has either declared or provisionally declared from Wednesday to Sunday.

Fourie has made no secret of his wish to pick and choose his rides ever since he cut short his Hong Kong contract earlier in the year while the huge Snaith operation obviously needs to have first call on a top jockey. Its blistering form has been the glue that has kept the two together this term but apparently Fourie’s decision to ride the Mike Robinson-trained Smokey Affair in Saturday’s Choice Carriers Championship instead of any of the Snaith three has broken the bond.

Richard Fourie (Liesl King)

Justin Snaith said on Saturday: “We will be using jockeys from up-country on certain days,” before adding: “If we have a horse that we think will suit Richard then he will ride it.”

Fourie added yesterday: “Yes, it’s very much like that. I am making a comeback slowly and at this stage I am [riding freelance].”

S’Manga Khumalo gets the call on Wednesday and Gavin Lerena on Saturday while at Kenilworth on Saturday last Raymond Danielson came down to partner two of Snaith’s five winners.

In the Choice Carriers, incidentally, the unbeaten The Secret Is Out (MJ Byleveld) heads the 15 declared despite concerns about her 12 draw and Vaughan Marshall said: “At this stage she is running.” Anton Marcus flies down to partner Table Bay in the Drakenstein Vet Clinic Cape Classic in a bid to win the race for Joey Ramsden for the third time in four years.

Jockeys, though, are not Snaith’s only problem at the moment. “There are no races for some of my horses,” he complained after Jo’s Bond’s all-the-way-romp under Craig Bantam in the 1 000m Conditions Plate. “She has been ready for the past two months but there was nothing for her and nor is there a race for the likes of Bela-Bela at the moment.”

Justin Snaith

But there are for Ovidio who won the Woolavington Handicap for the second successive year, despite drifting from 5-2 to 9-2. The top weight looked like being worn down by stable companion Francia just inside the final furlong but Jane and Ken Truter’s six-year-old answered Aldo Domeyer’s every call to hold on by half a length.

Snaith said: “Ovidio is such a game and genuine horse that he deserves everything he gets and, you never know, he might end up in the Sun Met.”

Seemingly another crack at what was the J & B Stayers makes less appeal – “That’s what did for him in the Gold Cup. Going into the Stayers he was on 93 and winning it made him 105.”

Fred Crabbia’s African Night Sky is on the list for one of the two CTS $500,000 races after making it two out of two with a most convincing win in the Racing Association Handicap with Craig du Plooy declaring: “This horse is something special. He has a phenomenal action and he turns it on like you can’t believe.”

The stable also supplied five favourites but Harakiri in the last was found to be coughing after only managing third to MJ Byleveld and Adam Marcus’s Boomtown Belter in the last. The winner drifted from 13-1 to 28-1 and, by curious coincidence, so did the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Star Of Joseph (Grant Behr) in race two.

Sean Veale got on the score sheet when leading throughout on the Brett Crawford-trained Winter Prince in the 1 400m handicap and staving off Danielson on Star Chestnut by the minimum margin.

Darryl Hodgson, so long kept at base with leg problems, was moving with all his old fluency thanks to new shoe implants and he had even more of a spring in his step after Grant van Niekerk kept Hassen Adams’ Royal Ginger going to land the 2 000m maiden.

Michael Clower

Rabada has been installed 7-1 favourite for Sansui Summer Cup and last season’s Daily News winner  impressed when partnered by Anton Marcus in a solo spin over 1 400m at Turffontein on Saturday morning.

Brett Crawford, who flew to Johanesburg to supervise the work, said: “It was a good gallop and I was very happy with what I saw.”

Betting World makes Triple Crown winner Abashiri second favourite at 10-1 jointly with Liege and goes 12-1 Samurai Blade, 14-1 Juxtapose, St Tropez, 16-1 Mac De Lago, The Conglomerate, Master Sabina, Ten Gun Salute, Deo Juvente, 18-1 Negroamaro, 20-1 and upwards others.

Derek Brugman, Markus Jooste’s racing manager, said : “I am surprised that Rabada is favourite but I think he is good enough to be competitive. Obviously he is a little behind schedule [after missing his comeback run because of an over-reach] but he doesn’t take a lot of work. He will go on to the Summer Cup after running in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile.

“The Conglomerate will also probably run in the Charity Mile as a prep for the Summer Cup while St Tropez and Deo Juvente will go the same route.”

Rabada is 5-1 favourite for the Charity Mile with World Sports Betting which also goes 7-1 New Predator, 8-1 Champagne Haze, 9-1 St Tropez, 12-1 and upwards others.

Michael Clower

Scottsville Sunday Oct 22 Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

1

Preview: RAW COURAGE failed narrowly at his second outing. The form has been franked and a repeat showing will see him go close.  You could write your own ticket about SEATTLE SKYLINE on debut but he finished a close-up third. He should have benefitted from that outing and rates a strong chance. RAND HEDGE has disappointed too many times to be relied on but he has always been close-up and will crack it soon. GUNPOWDER PLOT raced very green on debut and looks set to improve. ROY’S STORMER made a promising debut and with a four-claimer up can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 14-16-4-11).

2

Preview: Tricky. STARWIN improved nicely at her second outing when tried in cheek pieces. Delpech rides and she can go one better. BEAU VAR has shown consistent form and has some ability. Marcus rides for the first time and can get her home. HALLOWED SPRING was a distant third on debut but should come on strongly from that effort and any market support could be significant. AMADORA caught the eye on debut. She has a tricky outside draw but is another who can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 15-3-11-7).

3

Preview: OLE GUNNAR has some good form in useful company. He takes a big drop in class and a claiming apprentice will ease his weight problems. He rates the one to beat. RIKITIKITANA has his third run after a break. He had a tough task from a wide draw on the poly last start and can do better here. FANTASY ART has had two good warm-up runs since returning from a break and his form has been consistent. UNBELIEVABLE CHAD has been a touch disappointing but this is his third run after being gelded and on his best form can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-6-3).

4

Preview: ROY’S PAST has been up against stronger maiden fields than this and will never get a better chance to win. COURAGEOUS KING is much better than his last two on the poly and at best rates a strong chance in this company. PORTMAN SQUARE is struggling but has done well over this trip. He has a wide draw to contend with. ROY’S EAGLE steps up in trip. He did show some improvement last run after returning from a break and could surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-3 -14).

5

Preview: ENIGHTENMENT was left with too much to do when sent out favourite last time out. She had smart form before that and rates a strong chance. INGA shed her maiden at third time of asking and looks to have some scope. She races in blinkers for the first time. DANCE CITY QUEEN needed her last run, her first in blinkers. She will prefer the extra. CHARISMA has had one sprint on the poly since arriving from the Cape. She will much prefer this trip and is one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 2-6-1-3).

6

Preview: Difficult. ALL TRUE MAN has improved in blinkers and is in good form.  ROY’S MARCIANO has his third run after a break. He improved nicely last start and meets a weak field. SKYFIRE is taking on males but has taken a big drop in the ratings. With Tajesh Juglall taking four kgs off her back she should be competitive. CAPTAIN ELLIO has some fair Highveld form. He is lightly raced but is likely to feature strongly here. RISKY ROSCO has not been far back at recent outings and can surprise on his best effort. (Andrew Harrison: 6-5-4-2).

7

Preview: EXECUTIVE POWER seldom runs a bad race and was not disgraced in a useful field last time out and that form has since been franked. BUDAPEST showed up well first up from a lengthy break. At best he will go very close. HIGHWAY EXPLORER has been knocking at the door for some time now. He has a handy weight and with Delpech up is a likely winner. PIANO MAN loves this course and is especially effective if the ground comes up soft. JUST ASK ME has put up two smart recent efforts on the poly and now switches to the turf. (Andrew Harrison: 5-9-8-4).

8

Preview: A WOMANS WAY won a Gr2 at second time of asking. She was arguably desperately unlucky at her last start against much stronger than she meets today and should take a power of beating. ISINGAMOYA has a big weight but also a touch of class. She shed her maiden ove course and distance and is a big runner.  RESPECT AT BAY is never far back and has useful form over course and distance. She looks the most likely danger. DEEP DOWN REBEL has come good in blinkers but takes a rise in class here but can still place. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-8-7).

9

Preview: Difficult in a poor field. MILLRACE has been consistent and with Marcus replacing a four-claiming apprentice he must have a decent chance in this company. WESKUS KLONG was not too far back in his local debut and can improve on that effort. BLUNDERBUSS took on stronger last start and appears to have found some form. The blinkers are back on. CHILL is never far back and has a big chance in a race of this nature. SEMONKONG did not feature against stronger last outing even with a light weight but can do better here. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-5-2).