Famous Bridge out to reclaim Tommy Whittle crown

Nicky Richards is optimistic Famous Bridge can bounce back to form in his bid for a second victory in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The nine-year-old won two valuable prizes over the course and distance in 2023, including this once prestigious contest, while he finished third when defending his crown 12 months ago.

Famous Bridge has not been in the same form this autumn, finishing down the field over hurdles at Ayr and on his most recent visit to Haydock last month, but he has dropped to the mark off which he previously won this race and his trainer has reason to believe a resurgence could be on the cards.

“He looks very well and we’re getting the right signs at home,” said Richards.

“I hope the ground is soft. He likes soft ground and that ground wasn’t as soft as he likes the last day.

“I think he’ll run a good, competitive race. He’s a grand old horse and he’s got more in his favour than he has done any time this year anyway.

“He likes the track, the handicapper has given him a bit of a chance, he’s eating great and looks great and looks like he has plenty of bounce about him, so hopefully there’s a good run in store on Saturday.”

Famous Bridge finished seventh on the Betfair Chase undercard four weeks ago and renews rivalry with the first and second from that race, Top Of The Bill and Saladins Son.

Top Of The Bill is trained by the father-son partnership of Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies and the latter said: “We’re trying to not change a winning formula, he had the option of the Welsh National but it’s a very good prize at Haydock and he looks to have a great chance.

“The bookies know a lot more than me, but he looks overpriced to me knowing how well he won last time.

“He has come out of that very well and looks a picture at home and we think he goes there with every chance of winning again.”

Listed honours are up for grabs in the Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, for which Harry Derham’s Jackie Hobbs is the likely favourite.

A dual bumper winner last season before disappointing in a Grade Two at Aintree, the five-year-old made a winning debut over hurdles at Newbury in the Noel Fehily Racing silks last month and now goes in search of some valuable black type.

“She was good at Newbury, everything has gone well since, Harry is very happy with her and she’s trained well, so we go there hopeful,” said Fehily.

“We’ll find out about the ground, we don’t really know how she’ll handle it. It’s the same for all of them I suppose.

“The ground was probably a bit quick for her in Aintree and it was the end of a long season and she had maybe gone over the top.

“We were very happy with her at Newbury anyway so we’ll roll on to Haydock and see how we go.”

In the same race Richards is represented by La Zoubida, who was also well beaten at Aintree in the spring but is two from two over hurdles this season.

Richards said: “I think most of the mares in the field have done similar to what she’s done by winning a novice hurdle or two and you start to look for black type.

“I thought she improved on her first run of the season at Sedgefield when winning at Kelso last time, she jumped well and was very smooth and won well.

“She seems to have come out of Kelso well and I think she’s an improving mare. If it doesn’t work out I can go for mares’ handicaps, I’d be hoping we’ll be staying around in black type races, but this is the first step.”