Poole Master aims to get champagne corks popping

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma and her team worked wonders to stage the Kingmaker meeting two weeks ago after parts of the track were waterlogged 24 hours before.

She was rewarded with two stirring races as Irish-trained Glens Melody won her second Listed race at the course and Balder Succes put up a bold round of jumping to win the big race.

With plenty of rain since, the going will again be on the soft side as Warwick hosts the richest race being run in the country with the £30,000 Star Sports Budbrooke Chase (Handicap) over an extended two-and-a-half miles and due off at 3.40pm.

Star Sports are continuing their association with the course, having backed the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at the last meeting, the first time the bookmaker had sponsored at Grade 2 level.

Last year’s inaugural running of the Budbrooke saw an easy win for the David Pipe trained Ballynagour, who was hardly out of a canter to beat Niceonefrankie.

This time, Pipe has entered the more exposed Poole Master, a 39-length winner at Ffos Las at the beginning of the month and raised 11lb by the handicapper as a result.

Niceonefrankie has been entered again, along with course winner Pepite Rose and Bennys Mist, a winner of his last two races, and all three hail from the red-hot stable of Venetia Williams.

But it could be another course winner who comes out on top in the shape of Nadiya De La Vega, who has run in some competitive races this season and should find tomorrow’s opposition more to her liking.

The meeting gets underway at 2.10pm with the EBF Stallions “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier, which has attracted 42 entries.

Course winner Garde La Victoire has been beaten twice in better company since scoring in November, but could return to winning ways tomorrow afternoon.

Racegoers will be able to take advantage of a special Fish’n’Fizz offer, which includes admission, a seafood pie and a glass of house bubbly served in Warwick Racecourse’s Chandler Suite for £20 per person when booked in advance.

General manager Huw Williams said: “Our Fish’n’Fizz event is a great way to round off a busy week.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming our guests, not only with a treat to start their weekend, but with a tremendous afternoon of racing action on the course.”

Gates open at 12.10pm and admission-only tickets are priced at £15 each and are available to buy from the booking hotline on 08445 793013 or with a 10 per cent online discount at www.warwickracecourse.co.uk