November 26th, 2015 | 
Author: Having run inexplicably poorly when last of 13 at Ascot on his penultimate start, Pettochside…
1.30 Newbury, Friday, November 27
Qualifiers for the Pertemps Network Final at the Cheltenham Festival are invariably fiercely competitive and the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (1.30) at Newbury on Friday is no exception.
Billy No Name returned from nearly two years off to win a 0-130 contest over 2 miles 3½ furlongs on soft going at Wetherby last month and, if he can build on that success, may be able to make an impact in this slightly higher grade. He’s 5lb higher in the weights this time, but his revised rating of 120 is still 1lb lower than that before his time off, so he still looks feasibly weighted. Furthermore, he ran well on both attempts beyond 2 miles 5½ furlongs, so should be suited by stepping back up in distance.
On the downside, the Westerner gelding is only small and, as a result, probably doesn’t want any deterioration of the already soft going at Newbury.
Interestingly, Paddy Brennan, who won on him at Wetherby, once again comes in for the ride, despite Billy No Name being set to carry 10st 1lb, or just 1lb more than his minimum riding weight over the last 12 months.
Selection: Newbury 1.30 Billy No Name