With the Hexham card called off owing to frost this morning, jumps fans have to be content with Leicester. It is ordinary fare, but there are a couple of interesting handicaps. Bear in mind that the going differs markedly between the chase track, which is mainly good, and the hurdles course -- heavy, soft in places.
While there is a degree of risk attached to siding with Potts Of Magic (2.10) on his return to chasing, I think it is a risk worth taking. He came unstuck in two attempts over fences last season, but went on to show improved hurdles form and gets in here off a very handy mark. His trainer, Richard Lee, is in good form and is sure to have worked on the gelding's jumping.
The presence of Heir To Be in the concluding handicap hurdle kept the weights down. He was announced a non-runner this morning, but the Lucy Wadham stable has Diarius (3.10) as their No1 chance anyway. Ellway Prospect looks dangerous here, but Diarius should be cherry-ripe after a couple of eye-catching runs this season and is unexposed over this 2m4f trip on ground which he won't mind.
Looking ahead to Saturday's Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham, it seems to me that Desert Quest is over-priced. He's 20-1 with VCBet and widely available at 16's. The winner of novice chases recently, his hurdles rating puts him in with a great chance against penalised rivals.
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