Happy Birthday NH horses

And in England the birthday girls and boys will be at Cheltenham for two good Chases, the Gr 2 Dipper and the Gr 3 Victor Chandler

Yesterday it was Newbury that rang out 2011 with the Challow Novices' Hurdle, and Fingal Bay had few

problems in scoring his fifth win in as many starts, although he finished without too much conviction.

Ballyrock at 25/1 followed him home with Double Ross and Top of the Range, who made a mistake 3 out,

after that.

Today's dipper sees 6 runners in the Dipper with Sonofvic, second to Grand Crus on his chasing debut, at

7/4 as a result of that run. Solix is 2/1 and we rather like the look of Invictus 9/2 - he's responded to all

challenges to date and while this is tougher he looks very promising.

The Victor Chandler has 14 runners with Ghizao at 9/2, Duke of Lucca 6/1, Calgary Bay 7/1 and The

Nightingale 8/1 - he's got a lot of weight and therefore a claiming apprentice rider to help with that impost.

Can't quite decide between him and Duke of Lucca.