Car chase LE ROCHER CAN TRIUMPH IN CUMBRIA

I HAVE been waiting for

(nap) to turn out again given a deep test of stamina and that is exactly what he will get in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Carlisle due off at 3.35.

There was nothing wrong with his run behind the hugely progressive Deise Aba at Sandown Park – albeit beaten by some 12 lengths – and yet the handicapper has deemed it plausible to drop him a pound.

The 10-year-old will do for me and should readily take care of the year-older Takingrisks.

Talking of stamina-sapping conditions at the Cumbrian track, the open hunter chase at 4.40 looks sure to be run at a full head of steam with two frontrunners involved in the small field.

But that should suit hold-up veteran

after he bounced back to form at Doncaster last time out and who may be able to pounce up the final climb.

The drop back to two miles in the 3.05 should be perfect for

after he didn’t get home over four furlongs further last time out.

This unexposed youngster can win off his low mark before taking in some better events this spring.

The best ground of the day will be at Market Rasen where champion jockey Richard Johnson should be able to chalk up a hat-trick on

(2.20),

(3.25) and in the 4.30.

The first named looked sure to score last time out at Huntingdon before unseating Aiden Coleman at the second last. Meanwhile, Mistercobar takes a slight drop in grade in the novices’ handicap chase and has been getting stuck in the mud this winter so this quicker ground is a massive plus for him.

The same remarks apply to in the feature two-and-a-half mile handicap chase at 3.55.

In the past year, his handicap mark has plummeted from 128 to 106 and he showed two outings ago at Doncaster that his chances would benefit from deep ground.