Cheltenham Festival heroine returns plus progressive hurdler runs for in-form trainer - Wednesday's punting pointers

Punting pointers for each of today's meetings. . .

Dundalk: big chance for Aisling McGuinness to open account

It could be a landmark day for the McGuinness family as trainer Ado bids to provide his daughter, Aisling, with her first winner under rules.

The jockey has had only two rides, both of which have come for her father, and has a golden chance to break her duck on Skontonovski in the 7f handicap (2.18).

The seven-year-old has been in good form this year with three victories, most recently by a short head over a mile at this course last month. He was raised 4lb for that but it is negated by the 10lb claim of his rookie rider, who is also an accomplished showjumper on ponies.

Skontonovski is joined in the 14-runner line-up by stablemate Nikki Swango, the mount of Adam Caffrey.

Skontonovski14:18 Dundalk (A.W)

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Jky: Aisling McGuinness (10lb)Tnr: Adrian McGuinness

Hereford: will Alison Thorpe be back among the winners?

It has been a long time between drinks for Alison Thorpe, but she could have a prime opportunity to notch her first winner since returning to the training ranks with Limerick Leader.

In September the Camarthenshire-based handler saddled her first runners since quitting 12 years ago, but 11 runs since then have yielded no successes. That could change with her new recruit, who contests the 2m3½f handicap hurdle (2.35).

The seven-year-old, who won for Rose Dobbin and most recently for Olly Murphy, has joined Thorpe after scoring impressively by 15 lengths at Perth in late September.

Harry Cobden is a notable jockey booking for the yard debut of Limerick Leader, who will attempt to defy a hefty 11lb rise in the weights and give Thorpe her first rules victory since May 2012.

Limerick Leader14:35 Hereford

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Jky: Harry Cobden Tnr: Alison Thorpe

Hereford: Williams wonders

Venetia Williams' handicap chasers at the track have a 25 per cent strike-rate in the last four seasons, yielding an £11.50 profit to a £1 level stake. Hermes Du Gouet (2.00) fits that profile on the card.

Market Rasen: Festival heroine Sine Nomine is back

The Lincolnshire track's midweek card is sprinkled with stardust and the feature Bud Booth Mares' Chase (2.25) sees Cheltenham Festival heroine Sine Nomine make her return to action.

Trained by Catterick's clerk of the course Fiona Needham and owned by her father, Robin Tate, the eight-year-old was a hugely popular winner at jump racing's pinnacle in March when running down hot favourite Its On The Line to land the hunter chase.

She now races outside point-to-point or hunter chases for the first time in her career and is boldly pitched into Listed company in a red-hot three-mile contest. Her rivals include Grade 1 winner Apple Away, Marsh Wren and Fantastic Lady, who took this race two years ago.

Needham said: "As long as she runs a nice race I'll be happy. Cheltenham was massive. She has summered very well – perhaps a little too well, she had a good tummy on her – but has had a fair bit of work. She seems in good form but everything is sharper for a run, including the trainer.

"The plan after Market Rasen is hopefully the Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day, but we'll know a lot more after her reappearance. It's all a little bit of an unknown."

Sine Nomine14:25 Market Rasen

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Jky: Mr John Dawson Tnr: Fiona Needham

Market Rasen: trainer to note

Hughie Morrison has a perfect record with two runners in handicap chases at the track this season, with a £6.20 profit to a £1 level stake. He saddles Stuti in the 2m5½f novice handicap chase (1.15). 

Wetherby: O'Keeffe out to continue fine form

Jedd O'Keeffe has one runner on the card as he bids to continue his purple patch, which has brought two wins, two seconds and a third from his last five runners.

The Middleham-based trainer relies on Mr Bramley, who makes his seasonal comeback, on the six-race card at the West Yorkshire track in the feature 2m3½f handicap hurdle (2.10).

The six-year-old has been in the frame in his last five starts, including two wins, but must overcome a 217-day absence since finishing third at Uttoxeter in April.

"We've been waiting to run him for a little while," O'Keeffe said. "We've been held up a bit by the dry ground, like everyone else. We're looking forward to seeing him out and we think he's progressive. 

"He'll go over fences at some point but we don't know when yet. His schooling has been excellent but I'm hoping there's more improvement to come over hurdles first."

Mr Bramley14:10 Wetherby

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Jky: Craig Nichol Tnr: Jedd O'Keeffe

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