Back Bandol to claim the spoils

racing: Forget last month’s fall as nineyear-old should find things to his liking

BANDOL should go well in the Download The App At 188Bet Handicap Chase at Hexham.

Simon West’s nine-year-old has had a good season, with back-to-back wins in the depths of winter a testament to his ability.

It all went wrong at Sedgefield earlier this month, though, as he fell at the eighth fence of a handicap chase for novices.

Bandol had, however, travelled smoothly until that costly mistake, so he can be forgiven that lapse in concentration.

He has won before on heavy ground, but connections have always been of the belief he is a better horse on a sounder surface.

And with the forecast set fair, he should find things highly suitable in what is not a particularly strong race.

FATTSOTA has been very well placed by David O’Meara and looks like being hard to beat in the grandnational2017.com Novices’ Hurdle at Southwell.

A classy Flat handicapper throughout his career, he has had his attentions turned to hurdling late in life as a nine-year-old now.

In three previous starts over timber he has been second twice and won at Musselburgh, and it is notable he is being kept to sharp, flat tracks like this.

He cut no ice back on the Flat most recently but a mark of 90 looks beyond him these days and he will be more at home bossing inferior opponents over jumps.

The booking of Richard Johnson is another plus.

Wolverhampton racegoers can seize an early initiative by lending their support to SPIRITUAL STAR in the opening race of the day.

The eight-year-old gelding is by no means a world-beater, but he surely has enough about him to end a maddening winless run in the eight-and-ahalf-furlong apprentice handicap.

Spiritual Star has rather been at sea for a while now. Indeed, he has not hit the target since October 2015.

Be that as it may, there were definite signs of life at Lingfield last time to suggest there is the requisite fire in the belly to win a small prize like this.

SELECTIONS:

HEXHAM: 2.00 Storm Forecast, 2.30 BANDOL (NAP), 3.00 King Of Fashion, 3.30 Ryedale Racer, 4.00 The Bishop, 4.30 Up Helly Aa King. WOLVERHAMPTON: 2.20 Spiritual Star, 2.50 Armagnac, 3.20 Revel, 3.50 Oratorio’s Joy, 4.20 See Vermont, 4.50 Count Octave. DOUBLE: Spiritual Star and Bandol.