Nuts Well Up To The Job

Jeremy Grayson with his jumpers to follow from the nation’s smaller tracks

- Jeremy Grayson

CARLISLE, 13 NOVEMBER (SOFT)

1m7f207yds Graduation Chase (class 2)

Graduation chases weren’t necessarily created a decade or so ago with the intention that horses would break their chasing ducks in them, much less enter them having only tried fences once previously. Ann and Ian Hamilton are fearless believers in the ability of their horses, however, and NUTS WELL duly proved up to the task of trousering a good win purse so early in his chasing career with a superior display of late tactical speed at the end of a cagey affair. A half-brother to this excellent longstanding permit-holding operation’s current stable star Runswick Royal, the six-year-old son of Dylan Thomas is a bona fide 2m performer, this success following four previously at the minimum trip over hurdles, all around equally galloping venues. There is plenty of time for his jumping to gain the necessary greater polish, but stronger-run events than today’s can help there, and proven effectiveness on ground from good to heavy will keep options open. The Hamiltons have now saddled winners in every jumps season since 2001-2, and it will surprise somewhat if Nuts Well doesn’t manage to increase this term’s tally.

TAUNTON, 16 NOVEMBER (GOOD, GOOD TO FIRM IN PLACES)

2m3f1yd 0-120 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (class 4)