Braveman has the will to win on fencing bow
Bravemansgame (1.30) looks booked for the top so he should get off to a flyer at Newton Abbot.
can Run a yhilbeco l me Fair for fina lly hero l ona nin Nati Rya k Joh n eric Lim hot clas h
Paul Nicholls is sending plenty of stable stars into battle on the opening weekend of the Jumps season proper and this six-year-old is one of his big hopes for the campaign ahead.
Bravemansgame was a starlet of last term and went into the Cheltenham Festival with high aspirations for a crack at the Ballymore.
Unfortunately, he was slammed into his place by the likes of Bob Olinger in the 2m 5f showpiece.
However, chasing has always been his intended game and Nicholls has dropped him into a red-hot intermediate event first time up.
Fusil Raffles is a talented individual for Nicky Henderson.
The Big Breakaway has always been in the star category for Colin Tizzard and, interestingly, has won first time out in each of the past two seasons suggesting this might be the time to catch the six-year-old.
But Bravemansgame is supposed to be heading to the top and, if that’s the case, Harry Cobden should be winning on him this afternoon.
Nicholls can also strike in the next with BLACKJACK KENTUCKY (2.02).
The eight-year-old signed off for last term with a smooth win over three miles at Chepstow and another step up in distance looks ideal.
The Flat boys are still going down the road with Goodwood staging a seven-race card, even if the jumps lads are taking part in the opening event designated just to them.
AL JADDAF (3.30) goes later on the card in the nursery for the Charlie Appleby/ William Buick combination and the colt has improved run-to-run on three outings this season.
Over in Ireland, it’s the Ladbrokes Munster National in Limerick with an all-star cast set to go to post.
Compensation could await for trainer John Ryan after a sickening situation last month when stable star FAIRYHILL RUN (3.55) was balloted out of the Kerry National.
Ryan had targeted the Listowel event but missed out on a slot with a mark of 137 not enough to get into the contest.
The handler had the gelding spot on for that big day and, providing he’s managed to keep him sweet, may still be ahead of the assessor.
Other things to look out for on the card are
the return of Cheltenham Festival winner Mrs Milner and also Jessica Harrington’s exciting new jumping recruit Barbados.
At the Curragh, the Irish Cesarewitch is the highlight of the day’s card even if it does, as usual, look almost impossible to solve.
If you want to have an each-way bet, preference would be for Joseph O’Brien’s fast-improving BERNAUD (3.05) who looks a nice type for the race.
In terms of having a proper punt, Harrington’s Viareggio, Willesee and Alizarine are all tempting in the fillies’ Listed contest over the mile.
But preference at a price is for ANGELS WRATH
(1.10) with Johnny Murtagh’s charge so impressive on debut at Dundalk just over a fortnight ago.