 Australian jumper Ginolad is set to make his second appearance on English soil over the weekend.Ginolad has been entered for the £10,000 Bathwick Tyres Plymouth Novices' Chase (4800m) at Exeter on New Years Day. The race will be a considerably tougher assignment than last start for the nine-year-old after he only beat three other runners - two of whom failed to complete the course - on debut. A 12-horse field has been assembled for Saturday's race and half the field are last start winners. Ginolad's main opposition will come from the two topweights Synchronised and Weird Al who will both carry 11-9 stone (approx 75.5kg). Synchronised is a winner of five from eight over the jumps while six-year-old Weird Al is another promising jumper, winning three of his four starts. Trained by Venetia Williams, Ginolad will once again be ridden by 21-year-old jockey Aidan Coleman and carry 11-5 stone (approx 73 kg). Ginolad is expected to head towards the The Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Chase (4929m) over the Cheltenham Festival in March, a race won by champion jumper Denman back in 2007. Whatever his main aim this preparation, Williams believes Ginolad will measure up. "He's not only a horse with a past but a future," Williams told UK newspaper the Daily Express. The race will be at 1:25am (EST) on Sunday morning and the race will not be covered by either racing network SKY Racing or TVN. However remember to check the Virtual Formguide for all the latest news and results on Ginolad's new lease of life in the northern hemisphere. Picture - Fiona Tomlin
© 2010 Published 30/12/09
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