Dashing all the way to win

DASHING STAR made a satisfactory all-weather return last month and he can now take centre stage in the Betway Handicap at Lingfield.

Before that conditions event, Dashing Star had last been seen when finishing well down the field in the November Handicap at Doncaster on what was just his second start of 2016.

The seven-year-old had been off the track for 471 days before returning at Leicester last October, so perhaps there was a bit of the bounce factor in play as he failed to make any kind of challenge on Town Moor just two weeks after his seasonal bow.

David Elsworth gave him plenty of time to recover from that effort though, not pitching him back into battle until finishing a three-and-aquarter-length fifth in a conditions event over this course and distance.

Dashing Star was 5lb wrong with the winner that day so it was no surprise he could not get close, but back in handicap class here, the Teofilo gelding can strike gold for the first time since June 2013.

Hot Stuff can triumph in the Betway Dash Handicap.

I’m A Game Changer can bring up his hat-trick in Newbury’s Be Wiser Insurance Handicap Hurdle.

Philip Hobbs’ runner has really hit his stride over obstacles now, winning two of his four starts this term and looking as though he has not finished improving yet.

Out of luck on his first two attempts, I’m A Game Changer hit the mark at Bangor in January, coming home seven lengths clear with the minimum of fuss.

He was a similarly widemargin winner at Ludlow last time too, with the 11-length second Dino Velvet having subsequently run a fair race when pitched into the Fred Winter at the Festival.

I’m A Game Changer has been hiked 12lb for that win but he can rise to the challenge and continue on an upward curve.