Star Ascending to show he has something extra
– Course form can be key at Southwell and given Star Ascending won there last time, he has to enter the reckoning for the Betway Live Casino Handicap today.
He did not win a particularly strong heat at the start of the month, but did well to recover after a tardy start and might have a little still up his sleeve.
Sign Of The Kodiac cost a not inconsiderable 92,000 guineas (R1.7m) at the autumn sales and can offer an immediate return by winning the Betway Sprint Handicap at Wolverhampton.
This four-year-old is now with Tony Newcombe having racked up a reasonably impressive record, including four all-weather wins, when trained by James Given.
Sign Of The Kodiac has very much shown a preference for the Dunstall Park circuit, though, having won or been placed on all but one of his seven starts at the track.
He was most recently shaded by a neck in a similar heat to this in October, when a high draw really put him at a disadvantage from the off in a 13-runner race.
He is drawn highest of eight again this time, but that hurdle does not look quite so insurmountable and he can make a perfect start for new connections.
Theclockisticking can mark himself as a true Festival contender with victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle at Ascot.
This five-year-old has made quite a splash in two hurdles starts so far this year, cruising to a 32-length success on his debut at Fakenham before following up by 10 lengths at Huntingdon last time.
While that first race was nothing to write home about, his second victory saw him account for the well-regarded Cause Toujours despite having to shoulder a winner's penalty.
He travelled supremely well with the minimum of fuss that day and if were housed in one of the bigger yards rather than Stuart Edmunds' eminently capable team, he would likely be a bit more prominent the ante-post betting for the Festival.
Any pretensions Finian's Oscar had of running in the Arkle in March were blown out of the water when he was beaten out of sight by real two-milers at Sandown last time out.
Nevertheless, he still has the potential to go right to the top over fences and steps back up in trip for the Mitie Noel Novices' Chase. – Press Association.