Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A PLUS TARD (3.00) is expected to make a winning seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday.
A Plus Tard faces four opponents as he bids to back up a stunning 22-length success in the Grade 1 test 12 months ago.
Rachael Blackmore’s mount had 17½ lengths to spare over third home Protektorat, who is re-opposing, when triumphant at Cheltenham last March and it will rank as one of the shocks of the jumps season so far if his colours are lowered today.
GOOD RISK AT ALL is expected to thrive for a first attempt at three miles by beating 12 rivals for the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2.25).
Last February, the Sam Thomas-saddled six-year-old marked his second start in handicap company with a nine-length score over hurdles on the Ascot Chase undercard.
My selection underperformed with a sixth of 12 in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National fixture in April but was back to winning form returned to handicaps at Carlisle last month.
Making his seasonal comeback against seven rivals, Sam Twiston-Davies’ mount powered clear to beat Wholestone by four and three-quarter lengths.
That success came over two and a half miles on heavy ground, but this stamina test looks right up Good Risk At All’s street, and he can overcome a 6lb rise in the weights.
Paul Nicholls has captured eight of the past 10 runnings of the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Graduation Chase (1.50), and the champion trainer has another convincing candidate in the shape of HITMAN.
The six-year-old has won just two of his 10 attempts over the larger obstacles since joining Nicholls from France.
But the defeats include four podium efforts at the highest level, including a second to Fakir D’Oudairies in the Marsh Chase at Aintree last April.
Hitman emerged with plenty of credit from the Old Roan Chase back on Merseyside last month, going under by a head to Riders On the Storm, to whom he was attempting to concede 20lb, and a reproduction of that performance should suffice.
The Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (3.35) rates a good opportunity for LORD DU MESNIL to rack up a fourth score at Haydock.
At Ascot, EDWARDSTONE gets the vote to defy top weight in the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase (3.15).
Alan King’s son of Kayf Tara enjoyed the high point of an excellent novice-chasing campaign when landing the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Frestival last March and still has the untapped potential to improve past a British Horseracing Authority rating of 161.
Champion Hurdle favourite CONSTITUTION HILL should justify building-society odds in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle (2.40).
The 22-length demolition of his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle foes – stablemate Jonbon led the beaten horses home – will live long in the memory and the Nicky Henderson five-year-old has plenty in hand as he seeks to take his record in the professional ranks to four wins from as many attempts.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase victor L’HOMME PRESSE is very much the man to follow in the Grade 2 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase (2.05).
Venetia Williams’ rising star wasn’t at his best when third to Cheltenham victim Ahoy Senor in Aintree’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase last April but is reported to be firing on all cylinders for his comeback.
Saturday tips
LINGFIELD PARK
11.05 DORS TOYBOY
11.35 COME ON GIRL
12.05 THREEBARS
12.35 HERETIC
1.10 GRANARY QUEEN
1.45 NOBLE DYNASTY
2.20 BANG ON THE BELL
2.55 MARION’S BOY
3.30 DINOO
HAYDOCK PARK
12.10 SNAKE ROLL
12.40 WOULDUBEWELL
1.15 STAINSBY GIRL
1.50 HITMAN
2.25 GOOD RISK AT ALL (NAP)
3.00 A PLUS TARD
3.35 LORD DU MESNIL
HUNTINGDON
12.15 KLITSCHKO
12.48 WYNN HOUSE
1.23 ARMCHAIR FARMER
1.58 MANOR PARK
2.33 MANINSANE
3.08 MONTY’S AWARD
3.43 DANCING IN BRAZIL
ASCOT
12.20 GUNNERY OFFICER
12.55 ARIZONA CARDINAL
1.30 TERRESITA
2.05 L’HOMME PRESSE
2.40 CONSTITUTION HILL
3.15 EDWARDSTONE
3.50 IMMORTAL
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.30 PERIPETEIA (NB)
5.00 FOXY RASCAL
5.30 POETIC FORCE
6.00 MISTER X
6.30 THE MENSTONE GEM
7.00 TAGABAWA
7.30 INTRICACY
8.00 HOOFLEPUFF
8.30 SNOOZE LANE
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