KNOCKOUT!
Bailey ace will have rivals on the ropes in Mandarin
KNOCKANRAWLEY (nap) can repeat his victory of three years ago in the Betfred Mandarin Handicap Chase (2.25) at Newbury.
Kim Bailey’s grey looked a horse on the up when landing this race in 2017 – but things haven’t gone to plan in the meantime.
Knockanrawley has been limited to just six outings since, none of them yielding success.
But my selection showed he shouldn’t be written off when narrowly going under at Ayr in the middle of last month.
Having his first start since April, Knockanrawley was sent off the 15-8 favourite and so nearly netted the money, going under by a short head to Catamaran Du Seuil.
That race was run on heavy ground, so today’s playing surface won’t present any problems, and Knockanrawley gets the vote to go one better. BRAVE Nicky Henderson’s EAGLE
should benefit from a step up in distance for the Betfred Handicap Hurdle (1.50).
The former point-to-pointer, successful over two miles and three furlongs at Fontwell in March, finished a 15-length second over a quarter mile shorter at Exeter in mid-November on his comeback.
The handicapper has put up Brave Eagle 2lb, and the extra yardage should see Nico De Boinville’s mount in a better light.
The Betfred Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (3.35) looks tricky despite attracting just four runners, with preference A VOS for GARDES. Second to Ami Desbois in a two-runner novice chase at Wetherby earlier in the month, Charlie Longsdon’s son of Kapgarde should enjoy this sterner test of stamina, and his 124 rating is a stone lower than his peak perch over hurdles. EMPEROR’S At Haydock, CHOICE,
11lb lower than for his last win, appeals in the Last Fling WOLF Handicap Chase (2.10), while SWORD,
representing The Last Fling’s trainer Sue Smith, should go well in the handicap chase (2.45).
The ITV cameras visit charming Taunton, where the Queen’s SUNSHADE unbeaten looks a worthy favourite for the Listed totetrifecta Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (3.15).