Ruby rocks on to Taunton on Tuesday Ruby Walsh has a strong book of rides for Paul Nicholls at Taunton tomorrow and the pair kick off with Toubab in the 2.10, the southwest-racing.com Novices' Hurdle. This French-import joined Manor Farm Stables after an eye-catching run to take third place, having made the running, in a hurdle at Enghien in Paris last September. He hadn't shown much in five outings on the flat but better is obviously expected of the four-year-old grey at this game. An hour later, the well-touted Watergate has his second attempt over obstacles in division two of this novice hurdle. The ground was very testing at Kempton when this fellow was beaten into fourth as favourite 17 days ago but he is likely to improve enormously for the experience. The opposition includes Whistlejacquet and Via Galilei and makes this an event not to be missed. Similarly in the Deane Veterinary Centre Novices' Hurdle, Walsh's very promising mount, Valentine Vic, a course and distance winner, must face decent sorts, most noteworthy of which may be previous Cheltenham Festival winners, Cappa Bleu and An Accordion (has had a couple of breathing operations). It is a fair test for the former Liam Burke-trained dual point-to-point winner, Valentine Vic, conceding weight to horses such as this, and it will certainly be interesting to see how he fares. Walsh rode Buck Mulligan in the past when that one was with his father, Ted, but he will now be in opposition to that Evan Williams horse when he rides Oracle Des Mottes in the two mile three furlong handicap chase. The now eleven-year-old has his chance in an open affair. Nicholls said that Rock On Ruby would be hard to beat in his Racing Post Column on Saturday, so that should ensure the Oscar five-year-old goes off a short price for the concluding P.A.S. Sound & Communications Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race. A full-brother to a black type winner from the family of 13-time winner, Bank View, Rock On Ruby was fourth behind the unbeaten Oscar Whisky (after three starts) on his debut. A reproduction of such form should indeed see him go a few places better now.
