THE last week has absolutely flown by as it has been a busy time. The new season is underway and we very nearly made it a winning start to the new campaign in the opening race at Uttoxeter with Saccary finishing a neck second under Jack Tudor.

Grand Claremont made his British and stable debut and found the ground a little too lively. These French horses can take a race or two to acclimatise to the British style of racing and our eight-time winner will improve for this initial experience.

Our first runners of this week come on Tuesday at two meetings, Ffos Las and Hereford. We have two runners at Ffos Las, Penn Avenue and Mancero, and American Sniper goes to Hereford in the evening.

Penn Avenue didn’t run too badly at Ayr last time in a novice event but will appreciate returning to handicap company with Rian Corcoran taking off his very useful claim. She has a string of placed efforts to her name and she has a chance of getting her first win over hurdles fingers crossed.

Mancero ran a career best at the track last time to be second. Lots of hurdles were taken out the last day because of low sun but we shouldn’t have that problem this time. He has taken a while to find his form since arriving from France but his last two runs have been good and a repeat of those will give him a good chance this time. Charlie Hammond has ridden him before and got on well and rides again today with Jack Tudor at the other meeting.

American Sniper runs in the 7.17pm handicap hurdle at Hereford with Jack on board and returns after a little break. He will enjoy the better ground he will have now and the handicapper has given him some help. He seems in good form at home and should run well.

On Wednesday, we also have three runners at two meetings, Best Night at Newton Abbot and Purple Owl and Savanna Storm at Fontwell. Purple Owl needs to bounce back from a couple of below par runs and has the assistance of Rian Corcoran in the saddle for the first time in this conditional jockey race.

If he reproduces what he shows us at home, he will run well. Savanna Storm makes his career debut in the bumper at Fontwell with Jack Tudor on board. He is a nice four-year-old by Ocovango and he is showing a nice attitude at home and has done everything we have asked of him. While it is his first day at ‘school’ and he is bound to improve for the experience he has had a couple of away days and has learnt from them so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Best Night runs at Newton Abbot and Harry Cobden rides. She was twice a winner over hurdles last season including over course and distance and she will like the ground. She disappointed at Taunton last time but was in good form before that and those runs give her a good chance in this race.

Later in the week will be quieter on the runner’s front but keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information on the stable runners.

Dave Pipe was talking to Richard Walsh.