Sunderland Echo

YOUR CHANCES LOOK FINE

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Fine Rightly should make the trip from Ireland pay by lifting the feature event of the day at Kelso tomorrow, the Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap Chase.

Stuart C raw ford’ s charge shoulders top weight in the extended two-mile-fivefurlon­g heat, conceding upwards of 17lb to each of his six rivals by virtue of his official mark of 150.

However, he is the class act in the field and if anywhere near the kind of form that saw him placed in Grade One company last February, then he would take a world of beating.

The nine-year-old has not exactly covered himself in glory this term, but after an initial fourth over hurdles, he has been set some very tough tasks indeed.

He was never going to get near Douvan in the Hilly Way Chase at the beginning of December, while he ran as his odds of 66-1 would suggest in the Lexus Chase over Christmas.

This is obviously an easier heat than either of those two contests and even though he has to give away lumps of weight, Fine Rightly should still emerge on top.

Sleepy Haven can strike gold for Jennie Candlish in the Ferneyhill Handicap Hurdle.

He ended a near twoyear barren spell with that victory and looks to be back on a more reasonable mark nowadays after being rated as high as 142 in his pomp.

Black Thunder is a fascinatin­g contender in the Eildon Hill Stables Open Hunters’ Chase and he should make an instant impact in this grade.

Argante bypassed a run in the Lanzarote Hurdle in favour of the Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham and the hint should be taken.

Nicky Henderson’s charge has been limited to just four outings since switching off the Flat at the end of 2015, but he has looked to hold a fair bit of promise in that small number of runs.

Boagrius struck at the first time of asking last month and can follow up in the Raynham Novices’ Hurdle.

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