Dave Nevison's top tips for Thursday: Sir Ivan can rise to occasion
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Dave Nevison has four selections for the meetings at Wincanton, Market Rasen and Chelmsford on Thursday - watch how they fare live on Racing TV.
I am sticking with this mare, who looked slow for her previous trainer but did not get the best of runs behind a big improver on her first start for Jeremy Scott.
Her trainer remains in good form and though she has been raised 3lb for getting beaten I feel she might well improve for the step up in trip, and also could well benefit from more experienced handling.
She was not helped by the antics of a loose horse last time.
Dave Nevison
Finished: PU SP: 28/1
The presence of the potentially massive improver Gunnery will hopefully help the price of the top weight here.
Sir Ivan has been off a winnable mark over hurdles for a while but for various reasons has been unable to exploit it.
He didn’t stay at Cheltenham and was still travelling well when unseating last time, when he might well have won had he completed.
He can be expected to have come on for that first run for a while and there are not many others here in good form.
Given that Gunnery has had a four-month absence the market will probably give us the best guide to expectations but Sir Ivan looks set to run well.
Dave Nevison
Finished: 1stSP: 13/8
exeter
16:00 Exeter - Sunday January 20
Urbanist wins at Exeter in January
Is another that the market will give us a guide but he definitely looks like a horse that Dr Newland may excel with in the weeks ahead.
He was switched to fences and won on just his second start for the stable but something clearly went wrong when he pulled up at odds-on trying to exploit a favourable mark over hurdles a week later.
That was back in January and he has not appeared since, but Market Rasen is often a course Newland chooses to bring horses back and he has a good record at the track.
Urbanist could be a significant improver in handicap chases and a mark of 107 looks favourable.
Dave Nevison
Finished: 8thSP: 5/1
Caught the eye of market watchers on his first run for John Best - his price shrunk from 50-1 in the morning to 5-1 at the off.
He was never going to win, after being dropped out, but made rapid headway to guarantee third place for those who might have backed him each-way.
He looked every inch a ten-furlong horse to my eyes and gets that trip here.
A draw in stall 14 is not helpful, although given that he is very likely to be dropped in off the pace it may not be quite such a hindrance.
I will be watching the market but Tebay is one to watch out for whatever happens on Thursday evening.
Dave's fab four:
Dave Nevison
Finished: PU SP: 28/1
Dave Nevison
Finished: 1stSP: 13/8
Dave Nevison
Finished: 8thSP: 5/1
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