As you were for big race at Kempton
AS DE MEE failed to sparkle over the Grand National fences on his most recent outing, but he can put that disappointment behind him in the Betdaq Handicap Chase at Kempton.
Paul Nicholls has the eight-year-old in the mix for the big one in April and this return to regulations fences can serve as a nice confidence-booster ahead of the big day at Aintree.
As De Mee has had a mixed bag of results so far this term, beating subsequent Sky Bet Chase hero Wakanda on his second start of the season at Kelso back in October, before finding Gold Cup favourite Might Bite a step too far in a Listed heat at Sandown.
That was not a bad run in finishing fourth by any means, so he was not without his supporters when he hit the 10th fence and unseated Sean Bowen in the Becher Chase in December.
Heavy ground that day would hardly have been in As De Mee’s favour either so better conditions here combined with standard fences should see Nicholls’ runner in much better light.
Fellow Nicholls inmate Cyrname should also be on the score sheet in the Betdaq Now 2% Commission Pendil Novices’ Chase.
He found Terrefort too good in the Scilly Isles Chase at the start of the month, but a neck defeat in Grade One company can hardly be knocked.
Two and a half miles on soft ground was perhaps at the very edge of his stamina reserves, but should be within his reach on this quicker turf.
Redicean is among the leading lights for the Triumph Hurdle so really should be winning the Betdaq #ChangingForTheBettor Adonis Juvenile Hurdle for Alan King.
The four-mile trip of Newcastle’s Betfred Eider Chase is going to take some getting but Harry Whittington expects it will play into the hands of his runner Vinnie Lewis.
The seven-year-old has proved his aptitude for heavy ground and a lengthy trip in winning his last two starts over three and a quarter miles at Sedgefield and three and a half miles at Plumpton.
He stayed on strongly to win by an easy six lengths on the latter occasion and while he jumps into the unknown here, there is every reason to hope he will see out this marathon trip.
Lady Buttons has been mixing it with some of the best over hurdles and fences this term but she will appreciate a drop in quality for the Betfred Super League Novices’ Chase. (30) R Cowell 6 9-3 (CD2) .................. R L Moore (14) A Carroll 7 9-0 (CD) ........... W Carson (7) D C Griffiths 9 9-0 (CD5) ........ P Hanagan (21) P Evans 5 9-0 (CD3) .............. Fran Berry (14) P Midgley 5 9-0 (D3) ................................ L Morris (14) S C Williams 7 9-0 (CD2) ................. S Levey (14) R Hannon 4 9-0 (C, D3) ..................... Hollie Doyle (3) Archie Watson 4 8-9 (C) ...................... E Greatrex BETTING: 3 Gracious John, 7-2 Orvar, 5 Karijini, 6 Royal Birth, 7 Encore d’Or, 8 Tomily, Boom The Groom, 25 Brother Tiger. (14) R Cowell 9-6 (CD) (16) J Ward 9-4 (232) K Ryan 9-2 (16) M Channon 8-11 (14) M Quinn 8-11 (182) Sir M Stoute 5 9-0 (D3) ........... R Kingscote (21) J Ryan 6 9-0 Josephine Gordon (293)SirMStoute69-0(CD2) .................... JFanning (19) R Fahey 9 9-0 ................................. P Hanagan (203) C Cox 4 9-0 .......................................... A Kirby (63) D Elsworth 7 9-0 (BF, CD)...S Levey (19) D M Simcock 6 9-0 ......................... J P Spencer (21) Archie Watson 5 9-0 (CD3) .............. L Morris (21) J Gosden 4 9-0 (CD) .............................. R Havlin (29) A P O’Brien (IRE) 5 8-11 .............. R L Moore BETTING: 3 Clear Skies, 4 Autocratic, 9-2 Utmost, 6 Convey, 7 Khalidi, 10 Master The World, 12 Mr Owen, Petite Jack, 25 Others.
11-8fav Settled behind leaders in 4th, travelled well entering straight, switched left and progress 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, easily, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcap pol in Jan beating Sharjah by 6l, 8 ran. 6-1 Chased leaders, effort 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 10l behind Fabricate at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug. 5-1 Soon led, made rest, ridden and hard pressed over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f Listed stks (1) pol beating Victory Bond by 1 1/4l, 9 ran. 6th of 7, 9l behind Contentment at Sha Tin(HK) 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in May. 9-4 Tracked leading trio, quick move on outside to lead narrowly 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace and no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Crystal Ocean at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug. (25) R C Guest 4 9-10 (CD) ... B Sanderson (7) (24) R Fahey 6 9-10 (CD) ..... S Woods (7) (8) D O’Meara 7 9-10 (D4) .............. S James (22)DIvory89-10(BF,D7) ................. RWinston (17) Mrs L Williamson 4 9-4 ................ G Malune (7) (19) P Morris 9 9-4 (D2) ........................ C Rodriguez (3) (14) M Attwater 9 9-4 (C, D) .. W Carson (122)BHaslam49-4(D) ................ CHardie (4) D O’Meara 4 9-4 (CD) .... C McGovern (5) (17) W Kittow 4 9-4 ................................... L Keniry BETTING: 4 Varsovian, 9-2 Sterling Silva, 5 The Amber Fort, 6 Monumental Man, 7 Amazing Grazing, 8 Ballymore Castle, 10 Trotter, Major Crispies, 12 Others. (21) Mrs L Wadham 8 9-2 .............. D Costello (21) A King 7 9-2 ................... W Carson (22) M J Tynan (IRE) 5 9-2 ....... J Fanning (22)DCoakley69-2 ......................... RWinston (16) M Channon 4 9-0 ....................... F Norton (309) J-R Auvray 4 9-0 ............................. L Keniry (231) R Brisland 4 9-0 ........... M Monaghan (3) BETTING: 7-4 Iconic Belle, 7-2 Tiar Na Nog, 4 Lady Persephone, 6 Nafaayes, 10 Little Ambitious, 12 Navajo Grey, 20 Alizee Javilex. (55) S Crisford 7 9-7 (C, D3) ............... R Havlin (43) S Dow 4 9-6 (CD) ........... T Marquand (42) Eve J-Houghton 6 9-5 (CD3) .................. C Bishop (14) Archie Watson 6 9-3 (CD4) .............. L Morris (3) P McEntee 5 8-12 (D2) ................. C Shepherd (3) (28) A Carroll 9 8-12 (CD) ............... Hollie Doyle (70) Miss G Kelleway 4 8-8 .......... Josephine Gordon (41) D C Griffiths 9 8-6 (D3) .............. P Hanagan (21) P Evans 4 8-6 (C) ................................ E Greatrex BETTING: 5-2 Goring, 4 Chevallier, 5 Captain Cat, 6 Mutawathea, 8 Pastime, 10 Mr Scaramanga, 12 Sea Fox, 16 London, 20 Storm King. 7-4fav Raced wide close up, headway inside final furlong, soon led, ridden out, won at Lingfield 1m hcap (2) pol in Jan beating Surrey Hope by nk, 7 ran. 6-1 Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, challenged over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m hcap (2) pol beating Franco’s Secret by 1l, 9 ran. 20-1 Steadied and switched left start, held up in rear, good headway on outside over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Chevallier at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jan. (42) Mrs L Mongan 4 9-8 .................... C Shepherd (3) (24) J Best 4 9-7 (D2) ............. Josephine Gordon (36) M Attwater 5 9-6 (CD2) .............. R Havlin (24) W Knight 4 9-5 (BF) ........ A Kirby (15) H Spiller 7 9-5 (C) ................ Fran Berry (15) Miss Amy Murphy 4 9-4 (D) ............... J Mitchell (66) R Hannon 4 9-4 (D) ... G Mahon (5) (9) A Dunn 5 9-3 ....................... C Bennett (3) (36) G L Moore 5 9-3 (BF, CD) ................ R L Moore (10) P Phelan 5 9-1 (CD2) ........ P Bradley (5) (14) Mark Pattinson 8 8-13 (C2, D2) ............... H Crouch (9)ADunn68-8(D3) ............................. KO’Neill BETTING: 4 Ban Shoof, 11-2 Unit of Assessment, 6 Mullarkey, 7 Pivotal Flame, 8 Narjes, Moneyoryourlife, 10 Music Major, 12 Lazarus, 14 Others. CHRIS Hanson described his one-over-par opening round at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters as “extremely boring”.
The 32-year-old is well off the lead and in danger of missing the cut but promised to “try and get a bit more fired up” for the second round.
Hanson played par golf the whole way round in Doha apart from the one dropped shot on the par-three third. Holmbridge v Shepley, Scholes v Colne Valley, Netherton v Heywood Irish. Fothergill-Whittles Res v Flockton FC, Grange Moor Saints v Deighton FC Slaithwaite United Res v Westend Res. Hepworth United v Kirkheaton, Linthwaite Athletic v Meltham Ath, Newsome v Diggle, Skelmanthorpe v AFC Lindley. Britannia Sports v Shelley, Lepton Highlanders v Almondbury Woolpack, Marsden v Honley, Moorside v AFC Dalton, Scissett v HV Academicals. 3D Dyn v Cumberworth, Brighouse Athletic v Littleborough, Dalton Dynamos v Uppermill, Junction v Almondbury WMC, Wooldale Wanderers v Hade Edge Cartworth Moor v Mount, Kirkburton v Dewsbury Town, Rose and Crown v Westend, Sporting CAV v Cleckheaton AFC.
Kexborough v Gomersal, Ossett Town v Overthorpe, Shelley v Howden Clough.
Beacon Rang v Drightlington, Hebden Br v Battyeford, Lepton v Warley, Northowram Rams v Shelf, YMCA B v Ossett Town (Cup).
Hebden Br v Wyke Wand, Hepworth B v West End Park, Littletown B v Golcar U, Norristhorpe B v Ryburn Black, Phoenix v Kirkburton, Queensbury Colts v Greetland Stars, Shelf Yellow v Dewsbury Rang B, Park Ave v West End Park (Cup).
Clifton Rang B v Gildersome, Hepworth C v Warley Blue, Honley Blue v Skelmanthorpe B, Howden Clough v Shelley, Ossett Town v Rastrick B, Park Ave v Phoenix B, Linthwaite v Warley Blue (Cup), Park Ave v West End Park (Cup), White Rose B v Howden Clough (Cup).
Westend Lions v Northowram, Hepworth U v Deighton, Kirkheaton v Bingley, Lepton v White Rose, Ossett Town v Penistone, Deighton v Northowram (Cup), White Rose v Upper Hopton (Cup), Elland v Ryburn.
YMCA v Gomersal, Leeds Juns v Dewsbury Rang, Norristhorpe v Clifton Rang, North Gawber v Upper Hopton, Ossett Albion v Shepley, Gildersome v Shepley (Cup), White Rose v Upper Hopton (Cup).
Drighlington v Overthorpe, Hebden Bridge v Dalton Dyn, Howden Clough v Brighouse.
Halifax Sp v Wyke Wand, Mount Pleasant v Warley Rang, Queensbury v Upper Hopton, Gildersome v Shepley (Cup).
Hepworth B v Golcar U, Honley v Cumberworth, Horbury Knights v Skelmanthorpe, Upperthong v Golcar (Cup).
King Cross v Netherton, Northowram Rams v Gomersal, Westend Tig v Batley. Greetland Stars v Dewsbury Rang.
Norristhorpe v Drighlington, Ossett Town v Wyke, Westend v White Rose, Drighlington v Leeds Juns (Cup).
Silkstone v Brighouse Sp, Cumberworth v Brighouse Sp, HAFC v Battyeford, Halifax Juns v Shelf, Kirkburton v Pudsey, Linthwaite v Ossett Town.
King Cross v Horbury Town, Lepton v Hall Green, Netherton Falc v Gomersal, Northowram v Savile Town.
Hebden Br v Dewsbury Rang, Kirkburton B v Overthorpe, Norristhorpe B v Ossett Town C.
Ryburn Black v YMCA. Greetland v Cumberworth B, Hepworth v Clifton Rang, Ossett Alb v Thornhill U, Park Ave v Phoenix, Howden Clough v Westend Tig.
Elland Town v Deighton, Lepton v Bradford Warriors, Netherton Hawks v Westend Lions, Ossett Alb v Penistone, Shelley Red v North Gawber, Brighouse Sp v Drighlington (Cup), Penistone v Ossett Town (Cup).
Brighouse Sp v King Cross, Dewsbury Rang v Kirkburton, Ryburn U v Bradford Park Ave, Mount Pleasant v Battyeford Blue, Brighouse Sp v Drighlington (Cup), Gomersal v Ryburn U (Cup).
Brighouse v Ossett T, Shelf v Gomersal Blue, St Columbas v Honley, Gomersal White v Drighlington B, Norristhorpe v Wyke Wand, Gomersal White v Ryburn U (Cup), Penistone v Ossett Town (Cup), Honley v Norristhorpe (Cup).
Brighouse v Scissett, Ossett Alb B v Elland U, Brighouse Sp B v Westend Tig, Elland U v Netherton Falc, Gomersal v LS27, Gretland v Linthwaite.
Hade Edge v Park Ave, Lindley v Phoenix, Battyeford v Rothwell, Bradford Park Ave B v Brighouse, Brighouse Sp v Northowram, Kirkheaton v Lepton, Scissett v Park Ave (Cup).
Northowram v Drighlington, Shelley v Ossett Town, Battyeford v Lepton, Ossett Alb v Westend, UNITA v Westend Lions (Cup).
Elland v Cumberworth, Hepworth v YMCA, Rastrick v Shelf, Westend Tig v Gomersal.
Rastrick B v Dewsbury Rang, Howden Clough v Brighouse Blue, Kexborough v Bramley Phoenix, Kirkheaton v Woodkirk Valley, Littletown v Stanningley Alb, Brighouse Blue v Shelley White (Cup).
Cumberworth B v Ossett Town B, Hade Edge v Hall Green U, Battyeford v Meltham, Upperthong v Wyke (Cup).
Brighouse v YMCA, Gomersal v Wyke Wand, Phoenix v Park Ave, Gomersal v Northowram (Cup), Park Ave v YMCA (Cup), Upperthong v Wyke Wand (Cup).
Ossett Town v King Cross, Westend Lions v Shelley, Ryburn U v Dewsbury Rang (Cup).
Hebden Br v Brighouse Blue, Horbury Town v Birstall Rov, Netherton v Upperthong, Shelf v Thornton U.
Clifton Rang v Salts, Littletown v Elland, Rastrick v YMCA B, Ryburn U v Dewsbury Rang (Cup).
Shelf v Durkar, Shelley Red v Battyeford, Shelf v Norristhorpe (Cup).
Salts v Norristhorpe, Wyke Wand v Park Ave, Phoenix v Cumberworth, Howden Clough v Salts, Shelf v Norristhorpe (Cup).