TOP WAK
Smith’s ace is ready to pay his way in Sky Bet Chase
WAKANDA can end a long-losing run with a victory in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase (3.15) at Doncaster.
Sue Smith’s nine-year-old hasn’t got his head in front since scoring at Ascot six days before Christmas 2015.
But he so nearly hit the bullseye when just failing to catch Get On The Yager in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day, eventually going under by a head.
Danny Cook’s mount has been put up 3lb in the weights to a new mark of 147, but that’s still 4lb lower than his winning perch at the royal venue just over two years ago.
A step up to Grade 2 company should not MARIA’S BENEFIT prevent from racking up a five-timer in Doncaster’s olbg.com Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (2.40).
Stuart Edmunds’ daughter of Benefical comes here on the back of scores at Newton Abbot, Sandown, Ludlow and Taunton and is deservedly a warm order to continue her winning run. Winning point-to-pointer INDIAN HAWK
impressed on his debut for Nicky Henderson when registering an eightlength margin at Ludlow at the start of the month, and holds the aces in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle (2.05).
At Cheltenham, a switch back to the smaller obstacles should FINIAN’S OSCAR do the trick for (below) in the Grade 2 galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (3.35).
While his career over fences hasn’t gone to plan, Colin Tizzard’s six-year-old was twice a top-level victor as a novice hurdler and should have move to offer. The Crest Nicholson Handicap Chase (1.50)
looks wide open, but KING’S ODYSSEY looks set to give a good account of himself.
Evan Williams’ nine-year-old was left in front two out before finishing a solid third to Guitar Pete in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December, and the booking of Barry Geraghty catches the eye.
After a narrow defeat at the top level at Newbury last time, MULCAHYS HILL
deserves compensation in the Grade 2 Ballymore Classic Novices’ Hurdle (3.00).
The Tom George six-year-old was edged out by short-head winner Poetic Rhythm in Newbury’s Challow Hurdle, and a reproduction of that run will put Adrian Heskin’s mount in the firing line.