PAY THE BUFFALO BILLS
BUFFALO BALLET (12.30) can pay a few bills when he lands the opener on November Raceday at Ayr.
Neil Alexander’s 11-year-old has shown some fair form as a novice chaser and was staying on nicely late over 2m 4f when second here last time.
Lightly-raced for his age, the gelding should come on plenty back over three miles on his first start in open company.
Sharon Watt’s TOO MANY CHIEFS (1.35) can take control in the three-miler. The six-year-old was doing all his best work late behind Buckled over 2m 6f at Kelso and will relish this extra two furlongs.
In-form Sandy Thomson can add the mares’ contest to his CV with WIDE AWAKE (2.10).
The eight-year-old kept on well for second behind the progressive Undefined Beauty at Sedgefield and remains on a fair mark due to Rachel McDonald’s 7lb claim.
MAC N CHEESE (2.40) looks tasty in the novices’ chase. Keith Dalgleish’s gelding was progressive over timber and has the scope to be even better over fences.
The Carluke handler can also claim the bumper with QASR (3.45) who was third on his debut at Carlisle 10 days ago.
CATAMARAN DU SEUIL (3.10) can cruise to victory for Dr Richard Newland.
The five-year-old was second in a trappy event at Fakenham last time and the gelding remains unexposed over fences in Britain.
YANWORTH (3.00) is reported to be thriving by trainer Alan King and the Grade 1-winning hurdler can make it two out of two over fences at Exeter.
■Nicky Henderson is confident rising chaser Altior will be even better this season.
The two-mile superstar is reported to be in good shape at the trainer’s Seven Barrows base ahead of his comeback in next month’s Tingle Creek at Sandown.
Looking ahead, Henderson is relishing a clash with Willie Mullins’ Douvan in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.
■Cloudy Dream will miss Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham due to an error.
Malcolm Jefferson’s grey was a general 12-1 shot for the Grade 3 but will not run after he was accidentally entered in the Betvictor.com Handicap Chase earlier on the card.
But the gelding could go for Sunday’s Shloer Chase after the two-mile contest was reopened.
■ Willie Mullins’s 2015 Champion Faugheen heads eight entries for Sunday’s Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.