GRAND NATIONAL-winning trainer Norman Mason regularly names his horses beginning with the word Red, however he made an exception for Southwell-bound Nosam, Mason spelt backwards for the uninitiated.

It was a novel touch from the genial Brancepeth-based millionaire businessman who doesn't miss too many tricks, including the clever stroke he pulled a few years ago when appointing Richard Guest to be his right-hand man.

And no doubt it was the canny Guest who was instrumental in spotting the fact that Nosam's handicap mark of 100 over hurdles was a good few pounds lower than his current chase rating of 113.

That means to say Nosam is absolutely thrown in at the weights for the most valuable race on the card, the £10,000 Tote Credit Club Handicap Hurdle. And to add just a little more fuel to the fire, the French-style hurdles at the course are so high they actually resemble chase fences.

This is a factor likely to inconvenience Nosam's rivals, used to jumping the much more flimsy type of British-made hurdles.

The selection, on the other hand, is a wonderfully athletic sort, likely to negotiate the higher and more severe obstacles without any problems whatsoever.

It's always nice to put the icing on the cake, which comes in the shape of the stable's talented amateur jockey, Laurence McGrath, booked to ride Nosam.

Although he'll be locking horns with some hardened professionals, McGrath has had plenty of experience of riding over hurdles and fences, and represents excellent value for the handy 7lb he takes off Nosam's back.

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