Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FRY’S DELIGHT
Misty Whisky all set to give Harry a wry smile
GET ready to raise a toast to MISTY WHISKY in the Ladbrokes Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (3.30) at Kempton this afternoon.
Harry Fry’s mare had to be content with a silver medal on each of her three tries in novice hurdle company last season.
But the seven-year-old grey has shown the benefit of breathing surgery prior to this winter, with two wins from as many starts.
Sent off the 11-10 favourite for a mares’ h a n di c a p hu rd l e a t Utt oxe t e r i n November, dual bumper scorer rer
Misty Whisky duly got off the e mark over obstacles with a fourand-a-half-length victory.
My selection then followed up over today’s distance at Ludlow nine days before Christmas.
Lorcan Murtagh’s mount sneaks ks in at the bottom of the weights, and has the untapped potential to land the £15,946 winner’s pot.
The Ladbrokes Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.55) is a good opportunity for IMPERIAL AURA to warm up for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with a win.
After capturing the final running of the Nor th ern Tr ust Company Nov ices’ Handicap Chase at the Festival last March, Kim Bailey’s (above) eight-year-old has continued his progress during the current campaign.
David Bass’ partner followed a comeback success at Carlisle at the beginning of November with a fluent five-length margin in the 1965 Chase at Ascot 20 days later – and there is plenty more where that came from. He couldn’t get to grips with top stayers Thyme Hill and Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his return to the fray, but MCFABULOUS stands out in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (2.20).
The Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Chase (1.45) is wide open, but COMMODORE was running well when coming down at the final fence at Cheltenham last time, and should give another good account.
On Chepstow’s Welsh Grand National undercard, NASSALAM N is a worthy f favourite for the Grade
1 Coral Finale Juvenile
Hurdle (1.25).
The French import has wo won his two races in Britain
– bot both at Fontwell Park – by an aggregate of 108 lengths, and looks up to making his presence felt at the highest level.
At Wincanton, the Dan Skelton-saddled PROTEKTORAT should justify short odds for the Paddy Power Dipper Novices’ Chase after victories over fences at Carlisle and Cheltenham.
Later on the card, Skelton’s former boss Paul Nicholls is the man to follow in the Mansionbet Faller Insurance Handicap Chase (3.45), courtesy of top weight
GLAJOU.
He is giving his eight rivals two years and more, but Philip Hobbs’ GALA BALL has plenty going for him in the Mansionbet’s Bet 10 Get 20 Handicap Chase (2.35).