Old alliance join forces again as Skelton and Nicholls seek to bag another winner with Toss Of A Coin

Harry Skelton has ridden 333 times for Paul Nicholls and registered 63 wins for the master trainer, but only 22 of those mounts have come in the last five seasons with six winners for a healthy 27 per cent strike-rate. A further four were second and five third, so Nicholls evidently doesn’t call on him without good reason, and Skelton’s presence on Toss Of A Coin looks to be significant.

Harry Cobden partnered Toss Of A Coin to his chase debut second behind the promising Roccovango at Uttoxeter last month, and a 2lb rise puts the six-year-old on top weight here.

That form is untested, but there were probably more unexposed runners in that novice handicap than there will be in this open company, and Toss Of A Coin should improve.

Jupiter Allen made a similar step up when following his fifth in a novice handicap at Stratford on his chase debut in May with a win in an open handicap over course and distance in October. He is only 4lb higher now and didn’t run badly at Sandown two weeks ago.

He was beaten more than 13 lengths into fourth last time, but there were some promising performers lining up there and Jupiter Allen will find this easier at a track where he is two from two.

Regarde has stepped forward from his novice form last season and is seeking a third consecutive career-best effort following a win at Kempton and a good third at Ascot.

The cheekpieces he wore last season have been left off in his runs this term, but they are back on again here and might help him take the step forward he needs to defy this career-high rating.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Ground and weather

The going is good to soft with further ease in the ground likely because of forecast overnight rain. Thursday is mainly dry with a chance of a light shower during racing.

What they say

Robert Walford, trainer of Hititi
He disappointed at Haydock last time but we are hopeful of a better showing as he has come out of that well. If they get a bit more rain it should suit him.

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Sizable Sam
We’re on a bit of a retrieval mission after he pulled up on his comeback, but that might have been a bit sharp for him. He’s a course-and-distance winner so there’s plenty to like.

Jeremy Scott: "He’s a course-and-distance winner so there’s plenty to like"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Jane Williams, trainer of Pepe Le Moko and Jupiter Allen
The ground went against Pepe Le Moko at Haydock last time when we should have probably taken him out, but hopefully this surface will be better and we’ll see how he goes on his first run at the track. Jupiter Allen is a course-and-distance winner and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be bang there again.

Nick Scholfield, rider of Don’t Rightly Know
She has some high-class form over hurdles, including a second in a Listed race, and has schooled well over fences at home. Any further rain would suit her well.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Regarde
He was a decent novice chaser last season and it was nice to see him win on his comeback at Kempton, but it was all happening a bit quick for him at Ascot last time. We expect this track to suit him better and he goes there with a good shout.
Reporting by David Milnes