LEGEND IS NO MYTH
CLAN LEGEND (3.30) can strike for Perthshire handler Neil Alexander at Haydock.
The seven-year-old has been a cracking servant for connections and bolted up on his hurdling return at Hexham a fortnight ago.
A rating of 127 requires more but the trainer’s son Kit takes off a useful 5lbs and can follow up on his favoured heavy surface.
There can be further Scottish success thanks to James Ewart’s UN GUET APENS (12.50).
The nine-year-old plugged on well to land a trappy Carlisle handicap chase last month and can take advantage of an inviting mark back over hurdles.
BETTER DAYS (2.05) can bag the Corrie Cup on a competitive card at Ludlow. Nigel TwistonDavies’s grey landed a decent chase at Kempton in good style in October and can go in again under skilled amateur Zac Baker.
Hugo Palmer’s TEMERAIRE (12.10) can sink her rivals in the fillies’ handicap at Lingfield. Useful in France the three-yearold hacked up at the Gatwick venue on her British debut and is open to plenty of improvement.
BETSALOTTIE (1.45) rates a confident selection in the Betway Handicap. John Bridger’s gelding likes this track and remains on an attractive mark after his narrow second to Raashdy over course and distance last month.
Brendan Powell’s GARTH ROCKETT can soar at 2.15pm. The three-year-old cruised to victory over track and trip last time and will take all the beating if his tongue strap continues to work its magic.
■ Dan Skelton is bullish about North Hill Harvey’s chances in Saturday’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
The gelding oozed class in his first two starts over timber ahead of facing five others on his step up to Grade One level.
He said: “I do think as a chaser he looks to have stepped it up. Whether he’s stepped up enough, we’ll have to see what turns up.”
■ David Pipe is relishing Vieux Lion Rouge’s bid for back-to-back Becher Handicap Chase wins at Aintree. The gelding is primed for Saturday after his encouraging comeback in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby although he faces top weight over National fences.
Pipe said: “It is a tough ask from a 10lb higher mark than last year but he will be still be going when others have cried enough.”
■ Top jockey Sam TwistonDavies is recovering well from an elbow injury suffered at Sandown last month and could return at Cheltenham’s International meeting in two weeks’ time.