Jack versus Veto by Jim Eldridge

Wrestling Trolls bk 5. Hot Key Books. ISBN 9781471402678
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Fantasy, Adventure. The Wrestling Trolls have travelled to Bun to participate in the Great Bun Wrestle Smackdown, with two rounds of fighting - Big Rock versus Block and Princess Ava the Masked Avenger up against the Fighting Pink Fairy. Unfortunately, during the match their rather grumpy talking horse Robin has been stolen by ruthless rustlers. The Village Marshall sends Milo, the manager and the wrestlers off to Badlands Valley, where the horse-meat gang has hidden the stolen horses. There they confront Hard Harry and his cross-bow wielding thugs and with Blaze's help, they set the animals free from the corral. Blaze's ability to shape-shift into a dragon helps the Wrestling Trolls family as the battle continues.
In the second story, Lord Veto and his Chief Orc have vanished leaving this castle deserted. Jack sees this as an opportunity to return to the castle kitchen and retrieve a special ring he'd left behind. Of course multiple dangers lurk as the troop use the secret tunnel to gain access, giant rats, spiders and a huge hypnotic snake. What Jack discovers about the origin of the ring and his family members is extremely surprising!
Jim Eldridge's Wrestling Trolls series has all the fantasy elements rolled into one rollicking adventure ably complemented by Jan Bielicki's larger than life cartoon characters.
Rhyllis Bignell