Meetmebythesea and Kemble ready for round two at Sandown

Meetmebythesea and The Kemble Brewery will do battle for the second time this season in the European Breeders’ Fund Betfair ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.

The JP McManus-owned Meetmebythesea is unbeaten in three starts under rules for Ben Pauling, with back-to-back wins at Ludlow followed by a determined success at Doncaster.

It was on his second visit to Ludlow that he inflicted a surprise defeat on the long odds-on favourite The Kemble Brewery, who had looked a smart prospect after winning two bumpers and two of his first three starts over hurdles.

With talented conditional Callum Pritchard keeping the ride on Meetmebythesea in Saturday’s £80,000 contest, Pauling is expecting another bold showing.

He said: “He’s a very nice horse, he’s done nothing wrong at all so far and goes there in very good order with himself.

“We hope the step up in trip will suit him. He certainly didn’t strike me as a two-miler at the start of the season.

“Callum has ridden him the last twice so the obvious thing was to leave him on. He’s done nothing wrong on him and it’s a nice opportunity for him on a big day.”

The Naunton Downs handler also saddles It’s Hard To Know and Followcato. The former won his first two hurdling starts before finishing down the field behind The New Lion in the Challow at Newbury.

Pauling added: “It’s Hard To Know won a couple of novices and then found the Challow a bit too much for whatever reason – I don’t think he was quite right.

“But he’s been trained for this, I don’t think an opening mark of 124 is too harsh and hopefully he’ll go there and run a big race and get back to form.

“Followcato probably should have won a race by now – he doesn’t do much when he gets to the front. A better race like this will suit him because he’ll have a load of pace to aim at and he’s no back number. He gallops very well and is in particularly good order.”

While Meetmebythesea was sent to Doncaster following his second Ludlow strike, The Kemble Brewery’s connections have elected to keep their powder dry for this weekend’s valuable prize.

With a step up from two to two and a half miles expected to bring about further progress, joint-trainer Kim Bailey is in confident mood.

“He’ll run a very big race on Saturday, he’s in a very good place and has been trained for the race. It’s been his target for a while now, so fingers crossed he does it,” he said.

“He’s bred for three miles, so the step up in trip can only suit him, I think.”

On why The Kemble Brewery has not run since December, Bailey added: “He’s a baby and we had this planned after he got qualified and got his handicap mark, so it was going to be hard to find a suitable race for him to do both.”

Emma Lavelle runs George’s Lad and Silver Thorn. George’s Lad appeared to improve for a step up in trip when opening his account at Doncaster in January, while Silver Thorn was best of the rest behind leading Imperial Cup hope Belliano at Market Rasen a month ago.

Lavelle said: “George’s Lad definitely enjoyed that nicer ground up at Doncaster, his form is rock solid and he’s just been learning all the way through.

“I think he’s a nice horse, I really do, and I think he’s improving. It’s going to be a big day at school on Saturday with 18 runners but he’s a super horse we think a lot of and this was always the plan, so let’s see if we can pull it off.

“I really like Silver Thorn – he’s a real terrier and will stick his neck out and keep trying. He’s run some solid races this year, I think he’s in great form and we’ve put the tongue-tie on, just because he can occasionally gulp when he’s galloping, so hopefully that might eke a bit more out of him.

“He’s up for the fight, so I’m looking forward to seeing him run.”

The British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race throws up a rematch between the Alan King-trained Charisma Cat and Fergal O’Brien’s Dream Shadow, who finished second and third respectively behind Kingston Queen in a Listed event at Market Rasen two months ago.

Charisma Cat won her first two starts and was unfortunate not to complete the hat-trick in Lincolnshire having found trouble in running before charging home to be beaten just a neck.

King said: “She should have a good chance. She just got shuffled back and didn’t really get into a good rhythm round Market Rasen.

“This track should suit her better on Saturday and I think she’s a pretty decent animal.”