HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Fellowes ace looks up for the Challenge at Sandown
CHIEF OF CHIEFS can lay down the law in the Coral Challenge Handicap (12.55) at Sandown.
To pocket the valuable first prize, Charlie Fellowes’ five-year-old must turn round recent course-and-distance running with this afternoon’s rival Via Serendipity.
My selection was beaten just under two lengths in fourth behind the Stuart-Williams-trained winner – the reopposing Manson, who was wearing blinkers for the first time, finished second – in a handicap here three weeks ago.
A 4lb revision in the weights will help Chief-of-chiefs’ revenge bid – but more of an asset will be the likely strong pace.
Last time, Chief-of-chiefs, who had scored over a mile at Sandown on his previous outing, was asked to come from the rear of the field in a race run at a so-so gallop.
As a result, he couldn’t show his true colours – but it should be a different story this time.
Having her first outing since joining NARELLA Roger Varian, has plenty going for her in the Listed Coral Distaff (1.30).
Trained in 2017 by German trainer Markus Klug, the grey scored on her debut at Cologne in July before landing a Group 3 at Baden-Baden at the start of September.
Narella finished last of seven behind Wild Illusion in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe undercard four weeks later, but will find this company less exacting.
The opening Group 3 Coral Charge (12.20) looks at the mercy MUTHMIR of (left). Back on track with a shorthead margin in Listed grade at Haydock last time, William Haggas’ eightyear-old, with two Group 2 wins and and two bronze medals at the top level to his name, enjoys a class edge. TEODORO, At Haydock, who enjoyed a six-length supremacy at Newbury last time, rates the value to favourite Atty Persse in the bet365 Old Newton Cup (1.45).
Andrew Balding’s team are going HORSEPLAY great guns, which makes
a worthy favourite for the Group 2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks RUDE AWAKENING (1.10), while should continue his upward curve by beating 10 foes for the opening bet365 Handicap (12.35).