Bailey eager to finally unleash White Noise at Sandown

Press Association

Published at Nov 4, 2026, 14:53

White Noise
© Healy Racing Photos

Kim Bailey is hoping it will be third time lucky as he seeks to get a first run of the season into his Cheltenham Festival-winning mare White Noise at Sandown on Sunday.

The Gloucestershire trainer has twice had to abandon plans to kick off the six-year-old's season with first Ascot and then a reroute to Wetherby both bypassed on account of unsuitable underfoot conditions.

Yet if joint-trainer Mat Nicholls reports back positively from the Esher course on Thursday the Oddschecker Mares' Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles will kick off an eagerly awaited second season over hurdles.

“Mat is going to walk the course at Sandown on Thursday and if the ground is suitable she will go to Sandown,” said Bailey. “She was due to run last weekend but obviously conditions weren't suitable so we need to get one into her.

“She is in good form and has worked very well so we are very happy with her and she won first time out last season.”

Bailey and Nicholls have enjoyed a good start to the season with 11 winners so far and Bailey also had news of two of the more exciting prospects in their yard in Gatineau Park and Hidden Mountain, winners at Stratford and Worcester respectively last week.

“I think the world of Hidden Mountain who is a lovely horse and could be anything,” said Bailey. “He is a very talented individual but ground is going to dictate where we go next because he will want softer ground than what he ran on last time.

“Gatineau Park will either have to run in a 0-140 handicap, as he can't run in ones above because they have to have three runs over fences to do so, or he has to go into a decent novice chase or novice handicap chase.

“Wherever he goes he needs softs ground. We'd love to look forward to something in March for him but he has to have four runs in handicaps before he can run in those.”

Bailey added: “He is my favourite horse in the yard. I fell in love with him when I bought him and everybody loves a grey. He has a great attitude and he had a good season last year and he is all about jumping fences.”

K Bailey

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