Big talkin horse goes in Red Mills race at Huntingdon Mark Howard, author of the excellent One Jump Ahead publication, listed The Last Night among his top 40 prospects for the 2011/2012 campaign. As stated in the essay on the French-bred, an unraced horse rarely gains an entry in this list. Howard, also of Racing UK, gave The Last Night the 'thumbs up' in a ten to follow for Britain, in the Irish Field back in October too. There he commented: "Even though she equalled her best ever total of 30 winners last season, Hampshire-based Emma Lavelle deserves a change of fortune. Her Cheltenham Festival winner Crack Away Jack was transferred to Paul Nicholls, Tocca Ferro incurred an injury on the eve of the Totesport Trophy in February and, most recently, it was announced Court In Motion will miss the whole of this season due to a tendon strain. "On a positive note, Cottage Stables still houses some very promising youngsters and it is rumoured the unraced The Last Night is a possible star in the making. A full-brother to the aforementioned Tocca Ferro, he was bought for €46,000 at the Arqana Sale in France during the summer of 2010 and has been given time to mature since. "Most impressive in a racecourse gallop at Newbury last spring, The Last Night will go straight over hurdles and is a name we are going to hear a lot more about in the coming seasons if the reports are correct." Today The Last Night goes in the finale at Huntingdon, the Connolly's Red Mills Grocare Balancer Novices' Hurdle. Jack Doyle takes the ride on the five-year-old. John Ferguson's Cry Of Freedom won over the course and distance on his penultimate start before being badly hampered and unseating early on at Catterick recently. He is sure to be one of the leading fancies here. Ile De Re is forecast favourite for Ian Williams and Harry Skelton. Favoured Nation for J P McManus, Jonjo O'Neill and Tony McCoy won a bumper at Folkestone in November and this son of Milan is also of interest. (EM)
