Ski Lodge and Paradias both look strong contenders for next week

January 24

Runners have been scarce from Barbury since we celebrated a treble at Kempton a fortnight ago, but Alan returns from his sunshine holiday this weekend and he will be hoping to get straight back into the winning groove again with Ski Lodge in the novices’ handicap chase at Hereford on Monday.

Obviously, we have hat-trick seeking Followcato to beat in this five-horse race, but Ski Lodge, who has finished runner-up in his two races over fences so far, is proven in soft ground, so he should not be inconvenienced by the likely underfoot conditions he will encounter as he tries to make it third time lucky.

Ski Lodge bumped into a useful looking fellow-debutant in Itseemslikeit when beaten on his first try over fences at Uttoxeter in early December – the winner followed up off a 7lb higher mark at Ffos Las a couple of weeks ago – and, though subsequently outstayed over a longer trip at Haydock by previous winner Paddy O’Mahler. Ski Lift’s jumping was exemplary, and he remains an exciting prospect.

Looking ahead to next week, I am particularly looking forward to Paradias at Kempton’s polytrack meeting on Wednesday evening. Rossa Ryan has already been booked, and Paradias won this 11-furlong handicap last year off a pound lower mark.

Alan was delighted how well Paradias ran on his seasonal debut at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day, when returning after an absence of seven months and having had suffered a minor hiccup during his preparation, he was still beaten only a neck by a super-fit winner in the useful Brasil Power.