Horseracing: David Pipe’s City PM Column

FINAL plans for our runners tomorrow will be made later this morning, but at this stage it looks like MR BIG SHOT will be our only one at Newbury in the Ladbrokes John Francome Novices’ Chase (12.45pm).

This is a really hot novice contest over the best part of three miles, but he has always been a horse we’ve rated and it looks the perfect starting point for him.

The recent rain won’t bother him as he seems to go on any ground and he has pleased me at home with his schooling.

This won’t be easy, though, with the likes of Santini and Kilbricken Storm among the entries, but we will know much more about the direction we head come tomorrow evening.

My only other runner of note this weekend could well be RAMSES DE TEILLEE who might head up to Newcastle for the BetVictor Rehearsal Chase (3.20pm).

The ground simply wasn’t soft enough for him to show his best at Wincanton last time and hopefully it will continue to rain up north.

This looks a nice prize to aim at if the conditions are suitable and looking even further ahead, he could be one for the Coral Welsh Grand National over Christmas as he seems to love Chepstow.

Back at Newbury tomorrow and even though I have no runner in the Ladbrokes Trophy (3.00pm), it looks a fascinating renewal.

I was a little surprised to see that only 14 runners have been declared as you normally get a really decent sized field.

Elegant Escape and Thomas Patrick deserve their position at the head of the market as they are both young improving chasers who go on the ground.

They both put in excellent performances at Sandown earlier in the month and there shouldn’t be much between them at the line this time.

Their task has also been made easier by the withdrawal of Willie Mullins’ Kemboy who surely would have gone close.