DIVIN READY TO DELIVER
Divin Bere has found a successful new arena and is all set to prove his versatility again in the 32Red.com Handicap at Kempton tomorrow.
Paul Nicholls took over the training of the former smart juvenile hurdler from his fellow jumps heavyweight Nicky Henderson last season - but had little joy in three top handicaps over timber.
A summer wind operation was prescribed, and then a return to the Flat for the first time since Divin Bere’s days in France two years ago.
The five-year-old proved it was a wise move by chalking up a comfortable win as the well-backed 2-1 favourite under the trainer’s daughter, Megan, in a Bath handicap two weeks ago.
Divin Bere has taken a 6lb hike for his trouble, but his jumping career is set to stay on hold a little while longer as father and daughter team up again on the allweather this time with the 2017 Cheltenham Festival runner-up.
Half an hour earlier on Wednesday’s floodlit card, more familiar colours and connections may make the winner’s enclosure in the 32Red On The App Store Novice Stakes.
It is a year to the day since Laieth followed up his debut fourth here with an odds-on victory at Wolverhampton.
Gelded in the meantime, the three-year-old is back for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor with the right profile to defy his penalty and take care of this field under Jason Watson.
Nottingham serves up some taxing handicaps, but one solution is perhaps reasonably straightforward - thanks to Richard Hannon’s top weight Moyassar.
The colt has yet to strike on turf, but can put that right in the British EBF Nursery Handicap on the back of an admirably consistent profile in his five runs to date.
Moyassar did justify the odds with ease on Chelmsford’s Polytrack three starts ago, but could then finish only second at 4-7 next time.
He has since put up a much-improved performance, when a half-length third to a winning stablemate in a valuable race at York - and down to the minimum trip for the first time after a two-month break, this is a golden opportunity.
There is significantly more ground to cover in the Bet At racinguk.com Handicap over a mile and six furlongs, and it is undoubtedly Tarte Tropezienne’s turn to get home in front.
The four-year-old is highly consistent, if rarely successful, and proved her stamina when going mighty close over course and distance two weeks ago.
In the racinguk.com Novice Stakes, Just Wait is another set to relish the extra distance.
Mark Johnston’s filly was in her element when getting the better of a shortpriced favourite over a mile and a half at Hamilton last time, and there is every reason to anticipate two more furlongs here will only play to her strengths again.
Shrewd doctor Richard Newland is keen to keep Mauricio busy after his narrow success at Southwell last week - and it makes sense to back his judgement in Fakenham’s Greene King IPA Handicap Hurdle.
The four-year-old is allowed to race off the same mark under conditional jockey Charlie Hammond, with whom Mauricio is reunited on ground forecast to be perfect for a follow-up win.
Nicholls will be warming up for his evening gambit on more tried-andtested territory in Norfolk, and stable debutant Lisa De Vassy looks a very likely winner of the Breeders’ Cup Live On At The Races Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle.
The filly won her first two races on the Flat in France last winter, before a creditable third in Listed company.
In the colours of a prominent owner, she may well prove to be high up the pecking order among her trainer’s juvenile contenders this season.