Storm Control to boost National bid

STORM CONTROL can take charge of the Mccoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Chase at Warwick.

Trainer Kerry Lee has Grand National pretensions with her much-improved eight-year-old and if that plan is to be feasible, he must demonstrate further evidence of his staying potential as he moves up in trip again this weekend.

Storm Control has been a revelation since being asked to race beyond three miles for the first time, with back-to-back Cheltenham wins earning him an 11lb handicap rise.

His progress has been marked by fluent jumping from the front, a style which should be to his significant advantage over Warwick’s notoriously tricky line of fences in the back straight.

Three previous trips to Warwick have been suspiciously fruitless, with

Storm Control failing to finish in handicaps over hurdles and fences and then well-beaten again on his return this season.

He was in nothing like current form then, though, and those misadventures are highly likely to be less significant than the market may potentially decide.

Connections will surely not allow the reconnaissance over a new distance to compromise forceful tactics which clearly suit Storm Control so well.

There was every indication at Cheltenham last time, in a mesmerising finish, that he will stay further than he already has because, after slowing and wandering on the run-in, he quickened away again in the dying strides once seriously challenged.

It is not difficult to envisage a similar performance here, preferably without the late drama.

SELECTIONS:

LINGFIELD: 11.45 Cafe Sydney, 12.15 Gypsy Dancer, 12.50 Sky Bright, 1.25 Corazon Espinado, 2.00 Dutugamunu, 2.35 Bint Dandy, 3.10 Sun Power, 3.45 Swiss Pride. MARKET RASEN: 12.20 Mac Tottie, 12.55 Diakosaint, 1.30 Fawsley Spirit, 2.05 Oscars Leader, 2.40 Lil Rockerfeller, 3.15 Eileendover, 3.50 Easy Bucks.

WARWICK: 12.40 Frankincense, 1.15 Sky Pirate, 1.50 Next Destination, 2.25 Adrimel, 3.00 STORM CONTROL (NAP), 3.35 Come On Teddy, 4.05 Gold Bullion. DOUBLE: Storm Control and Next Destination.