BLOOMING MARVELLOUS
Flowery can root out rivals at Sedgefield
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Flowery ( 3.25) can produce a repeat trick and blossom once again at Sedgefield.
Iain Jardine’s nine-year-old was a good winner of the feature race last year and has the conditions to go and do the business again.
Flowery has only been out twice this term with the last run being a fair seventh in a strong handicap chase at Warwick.
Down in class and with Conor O’Farrell in the plate, Jardine’s beast can do the damage from just a 5lb higher mark than last year.
Evan Williams has a good record taking horses to the North and
OXWICH BAY (4.30) might bag his second win at this venue.
The Welsh raider always runs a race and Niall Moore’s 10lb claim gives him a chance of beating favourite Twojaysland.
Neil Mulholland’s team have come into some excellent form so IRISH ODYSSEY (3.55) is worth an interest in the handicap hurdle.
The gelding has the assistance of champion jockey Brian Hughes and there might be an opportunity to score, despite the fact his boss
Donald McCain has a dangerous rival in The Some Dance Kid.
DARGIANNINI (1.50) should be rewarding favourite backers in the opening novice hurdle.
Harry Whittington has hit form and the gelding can build on his excellent debut second at Aintree’s Grand Sefton meeting.
Whittington also has a decent chance at Huntingdon in the shape of JUNIPER (3.05).
The seven-year- old should be primed after chasing home a strongly-fancied Nicky Henderson contender at this venue on his first start for 542 days.
At a shorter price, the strongest looking bet comes for Dan Skelton in the second event.
SUPREMELY LUCKY (2.30) did it nicely at Warwick last time out and he can defy a 6lb hike and faster ground under title-chasing jockey Harry Skelton.
Willie Mullins has his big guns packed away for Cheltenham but KLASSY KAY (3.45) can do the business under his old ally Paul Townend at Leopardstown.
Cloth Cap boosted his Grand National claims by hacking up in the Premier Chase at Kelso.
Jonjo O’Neill’s rising star was a well-backed 10-3 shot for the Listed contest on his first run since totally dominating the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November.
He put in another terrific round of jumping and galloping at the Borders venue to hammer Aso (9/4 Fav) by seven lengths under a confident Tom Scudamore.
O’Neill said: “He was impressive at Newbury and did a nice job there.
“He just keeps galloping and he jumps well. Hopefully we can keep him fit and well ahead of Aintree.”
The bookmakers were impressed and Cloth Cap is now a 6-1 jolly for next month’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
My Drogo (2/1 Fav) boosted his reputation with an impressive win in the Premier Novices’ Hurdle.
The six-year- old cruised to the front two out for Harry Skelton and he powered clear up the run-in to slam chief victim Do Your Job (10/1) by nine lengths.
Skelton said: “He’s very good and every question you ask of him he answers. He’s got all the ingredients. He’s tough and jumps nicely and has that pace I think all good horses need.
“We’ll step up in grade now and go to Aintree, hopefully. Next year he’s going chasing, so he’s got it all mapped out ahead of him.”