Ruby goes to Taunton for three Ruby Walsh rides three at Taunton today for Paul Nicholls and he begins on Earth Planet in the Royal Bath & West Beginners' Chase. This fellow was a good novice hurdler two seasons ago who sustained an injury (a little sore with some heat in a tendon) on his only start in the 2008/09 season at Cheltenham (17th October 2008). He stays and jumps well and has the appearance of a ready-made novice chase winner. The ground was extremely deep when he was a well-beaten market-leader on his chasing bow at Chepstow at the end of December. A great tank of a horse, Earth Planet had a breathing operation in the past and he is likely to have Vodka Brook and Dover's Hill to worry most about now. Pistolet Noir is the Nicholls/Walsh representative in the 3.50, the St James's Place Wealth Management Novices' Hurdle. Pistolet Noir won really nicely for Nick Williams at the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham in November and was subsequently bought by the Stewart family and Paul Roy. He reportedly took his time to settle into the Ditcheat routine, and not the speediest type, he disappointed on his debut for new connections. The extended two mile three furlong trip now should suit him better and though he is in receipt of 9Ibs he'll have to be at the top of his game to account for another promising type in Duke Of Lucca. King's Legacy faces a demanding introduction to hurdling in the concluding Kingston Veterinary Group 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. He has been described by Nicholls as: "A lovely horse who won at the second time of asking in a bumper after being narrowly defeated by the useful Jau. A good jumper who hails from a top class family, he will now go novice hurdling and can continue on an upward curve." Sir Kezbaah and Whistlejacquet seem to be the other big players in the two mile one furlong contest.
