LET’S GO MAD FOR CLARENCE
Ar Mad can floor Un De Sceaux in what looks set to be a shoot-out for the Clarence House Chase at Ascot tomorrow.
The Irish raider is rightly favourite, but we have not yet seen the best of the Gary Moore-trained Ar Mad, who still has the potential to be a real topnotcher.
His comeback to be fourth to Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek at Sandown was a fair effort, particularly as having led at a fierce gallop he clattered one at halfway.
Although he lost his place and looked well beaten with three to jump, he stayed on again from the last, leaving Moore to state afterwards that he was the horse to take out of the race.
In fact, there was talk about supplementing the bold-jumping seven-yearold, whose only other defeat over fences came on his debut, for the King George as stamina is not seen as an issue, but common sense prevailed and he will go over a longer trip at some point in the future.
If his jumping holds up at pace like it did when he won the Henry VIII at Sandown last season, he can really put it up to Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh.
Jaleo is taken to make the most of a recovery mission in the Keltbray Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle.
Ben Pauling’s five-yearold was a strong fancy for the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last weekend but crashed out at the first.
The four-year-old had made his seasonal return a winning one at Lingfield earlier this month.
He won with plenty in hand and, if avoiding a repeat of any mishaps, a 7lb hike may not be enough to stop this lightly-raced individual.
Kylemore Lough should give a good account in the bet365 Handicap Chase, which carries added prizemoney of £70,000.
Kerry Lee’s pride and joy is a Grade One winner from a raid to Ireland last season that looks even better now than it did at the time, as Outlander, whom he beat a length at level weights, won the Lexus at Christmas and is in Gold Cup contention.
Lee’s runner has had just the two starts since that noteworthy success in March, most recently when fifth in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham, where a mistake three out blighted his chance.
That he recovered to lead is to his credit, but connections are of the view that took the stuffing out of him.
There is clearly a valuable handicap in him off this mark of 155, which is handily a pound lower than at Cheltenham.
A cracking card at Haydock sees all eyes on Gold Cup ‘talking horse’ Alary in the Peter Marsh Chase.
The French import must give weight all round on his first start for the allconquering Colin Tizzard, who has been making all the right noises about what he calls a “proper horse”.
Such is the firepower of the Tizzard yard these days and their record on a Saturday, it is probably worth just taking him at his word and not getting complicated in finding something to beat him.
L’Ami Serge should be hard to peg back in the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle, while Elgin can extend his perfect jumping record to three in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle.
Last month’s impressive course-and-distance scorer, Pinzolo, can take the Betway Handicap at Lingfield.