Our Punchestown winner Baron Noir returns at Warwick tomorrow

November 19

Ski Lodge made a pleasing return after almost 12 months absence when runner-up at Lingfield on Monday, but we are hoping that Baron Noir, who will carry the same Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate silks, can go one better when he makes his jumping debut at Warwick tomorrow.

Alan has always rated Baron Noir highly and neither he nor Noel were surprised when he toppled the Irish in the winners-of-one-race bumper at the Punchestown Festival on May Day this year.

Reflecting on that success, Alan said:”Noel and I decided at Newbury in February when Baron Noir finished third in a Listed bumper that we would put him away for Punchestown.

“He is a fine big horse who won at Plumpton for us first time out, and the bumper he won in Ireland looked a hotter race than the championship bumper there, so, while the second might have been unlucky, I still reckon that Baron Noir produced a very good performance.

“Granted, he is probably a two and a half mile horse in the making, and he will stay alright, but I’d prefer to start off over a stiff two miles in soft ground, and I do think that he is one of the most exciting young horses we have had for a few years. Let’s hope we are lucky with him.”

Also in action at Warwick is Geturguccion, who was knocking on the door over hurdles, finishing fourth in a handicap at Newbury in March. She makes her chasing debut in the two and a half mile mares handicap, while we sign off at the Midlands course with Callisto Queen in the mares open bumper. She cost £52,000 as a three-year-old and is a half-sister to the smart Midnight River, so we are looking forward to seeing how she shapes up on her debut.

Innisfree Pearl is a new recruit to Barbury, having won on the Flat at Brighton for Tom Ward 14 months ago, and she has her first run for us over hurdles at Wincanton.

Finally, on the Flat at Lingfield the ultra-consistent Loughville goes back up in trip for the Listed race for fillies and mares, having finished an excellent fourth to the highly-rated Danielle in a similar race over a mile and a quarter at Doncaster 12 days ago.

She is 0-4 on the all-weather, but she twice finished in the frame at Wolverhampton as a two-year-old so this change in surface should not be a problem for the mare. David Egan rides.

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