Lucinda Russell’s William Hill blog: Can’t wait to run Giovinco at Sandown

Sandown, Friday

I’m really excited to be running Giovinco in the Esher Novices’ Chase (2.25pm). He was impressive at Aintree last time when giving his rivals weight and this is obviously step up in Grade, but I think he can handle it. At Aintree, I would have preferred there to have been jumps up the home straight to give him a bit more experience but there wasn’t anything we could do about that. He’s a brilliant jumper and I hope that will help here, it’s just a shame he hasn’t had more experience under Rules over fences yet.

We all know Stay Away Fay is a very good horse in his own right, but this is a horse we think is Cheltenham bound and these are the sort of races we want to be running him in.

From the minute I bought him, I’ve always loved him. He exceeded my expectations over hurdles as we always knew chasing was going to be his game. Physically he’s perfect and while he can be a bit ‘different’ mentally, I think he’s starting to contain it now. Stephen [Mulqueen] knows him so well and they are a great combination.

I have huge confidence and faith in him, and I can’t wait to run him.

Aintree, Saturday

We run Old Gregorian in the novices’ hurdle (11.10pm). He’s got a penalty for that Kelso win but Patrick’s [Wadge] claim offsets that. He’s still quite babyish but I do think he’s one of our better novices and we’ve had this race in mind for a while. I’m not sure what price he’ll be, but I wouldn’t put anyone off him.

Next up is Monochromix in the handicap hurdle (12.20pm). We’ve actually had this race in mind for him since the spring and like Old Gregorian, he’s a bit immature but he’s got plenty of ability. Three miles at Aintree should be right up his street as will the conditions.

Sandown, Saturday

Down at Sandown, Choose A Copper takes his chance in the Listed novices’ hurdle (11.35am). It was a bit of a funny run at Hexham as he looked in trouble halfway down the hill and with that in mind, I think he’ll stay much further. We had him in both this race the two-and-a-half-mile contest and we just thought that if the forecast is right, and it’s quite soft ground, this race will be fine for him.

He’s very typical of the horses we have in that he will be a serious one over fences, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have plenty of fun over hurdles. This will tell us how we plan his season.

Thereisnodoubt will be a big price in the handicap hurdle (2.25pm), but these conditions will be perfect for him. Two miles on really bad ground is what he wants, and I’d be hopeful the track will suit too. He was fourth in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso last season, so we know he has ability and can compete at this level.

Ahoy Senor 

Ahoy Senor came out of the Coral Gold Cup a bit sore so we’re taking it easy with him for a few days. He’s got a bit of an overreach which he actually got before his first run so it’s just a case that he’s slightly reinjured that again. It’s nothing long term and I suppose things probably didn’t fall quite right for him on the day. On the face of it, we were a touch disappointed but having got him home and found he wasn’t quite right, we’re a little less disappointed.

The pressure is off him now and it’s on us to get him right for his next run. He could go to the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby next or wait for the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.