New purchase for Value Racing Club

The unbeaten bumper performer Howlingmadmurdock became ValueRacingClub.co.uk latest purchase having been acquired for £26,000 at the Cheltenham February Sale last Thursday. Previously trained by Anthony Honeyball, the five year old won a bumper at Fontwell seven days earlier by a handful of lengths and looks a promising type. Half-brother to Venetia Williams' three times winner Easy As That, he will join Tom Lacey and put away for novice hurdles next Autumn.

Talking of Value Racing Club, there is still plenty of time to book your place for their Cheltenham Festival preview night which is via zoom. Richard Hoiles is hosting the evening alongside my Racing TV colleague and 'the voice of Ireland' Gary O'Brien, Betfair Hurdle winning trainer Tom Lacey and jockey Johnny Burke who is enjoyed a personal best campaign, plus yours truly. Please head to the ValueRacingClub.co.uk website, if you haven't already do so.

I am working at Carlisle on Monday and then next weekend I am heading south to the Million In Mind stable visit to champion trainer Paul Nicholls. It is always a very enjoyable and informative morning at Ditcheat. I will pass on news of Bravemansgame, Stage Star etc in the One Jump Ahead Cheltenham Update. It will also be interesting to hear Paul's views on Monmiral who finished fourth in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday. The OJA Cheltenham Festival Update can be ordered via the Publications section of the website - the Update is £10 and also includes news of horses to watch out for at Doncaster's Lincoln meeting in late March. I have information regarding the Lincoln itself, the Brocklesby and an exciting unraced three year old who is set to make his debut at Town Moor.

Bring On The Night (5/6) supplied the French Revolution section in OJA with another winner at Naas on Sunday. A dual winner on the Flat for Andre Fabre, the five year old was making his belated hurdling debut having been on the sidelines for 644 days. Despite a few novicey leaps, Willie Mullins' charge was always travelling well and he stretched clear after the last to win convincingly by eight lengths. He can only improve for the experience and the Gleneagles gelding is likely to prefer better ground in the future.