Classy Coney

CONEY ISLAND can follow up his seasonal debut win over course and distance with another victory at Ascot today. Edward Harty’s stable star, left, looked as good as ever around here in December when he won the Sodexo Graduation Chase easily.

This is a much different proposition, but Coney Island can step up to the task and enhance his chances for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I was very impressed with how this lad went about his business on his return when quickening to catch Adrien Du Pont, who was at least 10 lengths ahead coming to the third last.

He showed great pace to take the lead between the third and second last fences and romped home to an emphatic victory under today’s rider Barry Geraghty.

TOP NOTCH will be a tough challenger, as will WAITING PATIENTLY, but I strongly fancy Coney Island to get the business done.

The six-year-old has some quality form to his name, including beating Anibale Fly, Alpha Des Obeaux and Road To Respect in the 2016 Drinmore at Fairyhouse. He also finished half a length behind

OUR DUKE, who runs in the Red Mills Chase today, at Leopardstown in December of the same year.

Irish Grand National winner Our

Duke can also boost his claims for the Gold

Cup and get back to winning ways at Gowran

Park in the absence of Douvan. He was running a good race in the Irish Gold Cup 13 days ago before making a bad mistake at the second last, which ended any chance he had of winning. In fact he done well to finish fourth in the end. But after a disappointing seasonal reappearance at Down Royal, he looked back to his best at Leopardstown and I believe he’ll be very hard to beat here if that race hasn’t taken too much out of him. Another one with a huge chance is BLAKLION in the Betfred Grand National Trial Chase at Haydock today.

Nigel Twiston-davies’, inset, nine-year-old ran a cracker at Aintree last time when winning the Randox Health Becher Chase and should follow up here. You can expect the Grand National favourite’s odds to be cut even further if he does. At Navan tomorrow, MOULIN A VENT can land the spoils in the Ten Up Novice Chase. He finished 18 lengths ahead of Thyestes winner Monbeg Notorious in December before beating Jury Duty at Naas, although he did disappoint at Leopardstown in between, but I fancy him to win this, while BAPAUME can land the Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle on the same card going down in grade for Willie Mullins.