My Timeform: Three to watch from the weekend's racing

Audacious Plan: Chepstow, 6th December

Though Audacious Plan could finish only third at the weekend in his bid to follow-up a win at Ffos Las in October, it could pay to speculate that his winning isn’t yet over for this winter. He’s essentially unexposed for a start, while there was explicit promise to be taken from Saturday’s race, in which he arguably shaped best.

Kept to three miles and partnered by Paul Townend (incidentally the second time in recent weeks that Rebecca Curtis has tempted a leading Irish jockey to a provincial Welsh meeting), Audacious Plan was put to the front four out and stayed there until just after the last, after which he could offer no more. He’s bred to stay three miles and evidently does based on his win over the trip at Ffos Las, though it seems as though he’s still working up to being a thorough stayer, still aged just five after all. Under conditions that place a little less emphasis on stamina, Audacious Plan should be winning from a BHA mark in the low-120s before long.

William’s Wishes: Sandown, 6th December

Even in a weak renewal of the Tingle Creek and even at his best, William’s Wishes is unlikely to quite reach the level of Grade 1 contender. The more pertinent question, the one connections should focus on, is how much of his ability he retains after two injury-punctuated years. There’s been sufficient promise in his last two runs to suggest he still has most of it, so he’s one to watch out for in handicaps with his current BHA rating of 149.

The listed hurdle at Haydock against The New One was only ever going to be a warm-up. The Tingle Creek was more a more serious assignment for William’s Wishes, albeit one still chiefly about reconnaissance. Held up as usual, he failed to make a significant impact but was able to live with the true Grade 1 horses for long enough to suggest he’ll get back to something near his best sometime soon. Given he’s presumably been difficult to train all along, expect William’s Wishes to be primed for a big run sooner rather than later.

Foxrock: Punchestown, 7th December

Many might now associate Colbert Station with a couple of ill-fated attempts at the Grand National, but earlier in the season of his first run at Aintree he’d been deftly plotted to win the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas. He’s just the latest big-handicap coup to be orchestrated by Ted Walsh and it’s not difficult to imagine Foxrock being the next after his run on Sunday.

Foxrock will also be familiar to those who keep their attentions focused on British National Hunt racing. He came over for the National Hunt Chase in March, for which he was sent off favourite only to flop. His runs this season have been a deal more promising.

Firstly there was a tune-up over hurdles. Then came his run in a competitive and quite valuable contest at Punchestown on Sunday. Foxrock travelled sweetly for Adrian Heskin and was still doing so as the eventual first two drew away approaching two out. He kept on after the last to finish within five lengths of the winner, still seeming to have running left in him.

It was reported after the race that Foxrock lost both his front shoes and returned slightly lame, which would make his powerful finish truly remarkable. He’s entered in the Paddy Power, the same one that Colbert Station took back in 2012, and it would be extremely unlikely that he’d suffer the same bad luck in running again in the race that one suspects has been the aim with him all winter.

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