We are looking to strike lucky again at Wetherby on Saturday

November 14

Alan won the ‘Introductory’ Hurdle at Wetherby 12 months ago with Favour And Fortune, and, though this year’s renewal looks a tight five-runner contest, he is hopeful that I’d Go Maniac, who makes his jumping debut on the Yorkshire course, will fly the flag with distinction on Saturday.

Successful in a bumper at Market Rasen in July, I’d Go Maniac did not enjoy the rub of the green when reappearing in another bumper at Ludlow last month.

Reflecting on that race, Alan said:”I’d Go Maniac stumbled and nearly fell at the crossing turning for home. and Tom Cannon was convinced that he would have given the winner a run for his money but for that. He had to have a joint stitched afterwards, but he is fine now and we are looking forward to this first attempt at hurdling.”

Our other two runners on Saturday are at Wolverhampton’s all-weather meeting, and, while Glentanar will be one of the outsiders in the restricted maiden,  Star Time, who opened his account at the third attempt at Yarmouth in August, ought to be competitive in what admittedly is a much tougher handicap than the maiden he won on the seaside course.

Star Time’s other two runs were on an artificial surface, and he ran really well first time out to finish second on this tapeta surface coming from a long way back in a race run at a sedate pace until they quickened up in the home straight