Mystery over Jerry’s injury
The fact he only won by a length means the handicapper was limited in terms of Fiery Spice’s starting mark, and he looks as though he could shape much better than his starting point of 62 in time.
Art Obsession made a pleasing return from a lengthy lay-off at Newcastle on February 1 and he can build on that in the Betway Handicap.
The six-year-old broke a blood vessel at Catterick last October and Paul Midgley gave him plenty of time to recover from that before pitching him into an apprentice heat at Gosforth Park.
The lack of a run probably told that day but there was no disgrace in finishing third, beaten just a length, and Art Obsession should be fitter for the outing.
Chiswick Bey can complete a quick course and distance double in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap.
The nine-year-old has proved pretty consistent in recent months, eventually landing his due reward when triumphing by three-quarters of a length in mid-February.
Pilansberg can spearhead a double for Paul Nicholls at his local Wincanton track.
The five-year-old was quite useful on the Flat, placing twice at Group Three level, including when beaten just under two lengths by subsequent Grade One victor Erupt.
A 100,000 guineas purchase in October 2015, Pilansberg was beaten out of sight by stablemate Zubayr in the Adonis on his jumps bow and Nicholls opted to draw stumps for the campaign.
Returned to action at Fakenham back in October, Pilansberg turned in a decent effort to beat Barkis but a step back up to Grade Two level at Cheltenham the following month ended in another heavy defeat.
He is clearly not a world beater, but a mark of 124 looks most reasonable judged on the pick of his Flat form.
Challenge Cup holders Hull FC come to the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday in Super League and Stone, who was without internationals in Leroy Cudjoe and Michael Lawrence for the derby clash with Trinity, is having to wait to see who he will have at his disposal.
“We are expecting to have Leroy back this week, but there are a few more players we have to check on,” said Stone.
“It is still going to be a little soon for Jake Mamo, who is taking a little longer than we expected, and he needs to get the flexibility back in his ankle.
“But we have got another day or so to see how the squad shapes up.”
While the Giants hit back to beat Wakefield in their last outing, Hull were turned over at home 16-14 by Catalans Dragons in a bruising encounter.
“From our point of view it was good to see the improvement in the second half against Wakefield,” said Stone.
“Hull had a hard game, but at this stage of the season it is about performances and not who has the best squad.
“The first five or six games are all about what you can achieve and right now we want to try and get a full 80-minute performance together.
“Already there is an element of fatigue, and we have a couple of injuries, but regardless of who plays we are up against a top Super League club and it would be good to make home advantage pay again.”
Meanwhile, McGillvary, who was Super League’s leading tryscorer in 2015, is confident he will be definitely fit in time for England’s mid-season international against Samoa in May.
“I’ll definitely be fit and available,” McGillvary said.