Time to break out Champers at Uttoxeter

Racing: Pipe’s charge should have too much class for rivals

CHAMPERS ON ICE finally makes his chasing debut in the Signs 2000 Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter.

Trained by David Pipe, he is all about stamina and it would be no surprise if connections are already dreaming of the four-miler in March or even the RSA at the Festival.

They know the big occasion and the track at Cheltenham certainly hold no fears as he ran a stormer in the Albert Bartlett last season.

Having gone hammer and tongs at the head of affairs with Barters Hill, he had finally seen him off only to be caught close home and finish a close third behind Unowhatimeanharry.

The dry autumn has held him up slightly as there is no doubt he prefers to get his toe in.

That is probably why he starts off at Uttoxeter, which is generally softer than most tracks.

He only faces two rivals and unless his jumping falls apart, should have too much class.

RETURN FLIGHT can step up on his narrow defeat on his fencing bow with victory in the At UttoxeterTwit Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Winner of one of seven starts over hurdles, Return Flight previously finished second behind Grade Twowinning hurdler Ball D’Arc in his only point to point start so he clearly has some ability.

That promise was certainly on display when he was basically just outstayed at Ffos Las last month.

The slightly better ground here is another positive for him this time around.

MY KHALEESI dead-heated in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on her most recent start.

She can make an instant mark over jumps in the John And Maryanne Birch Memorial mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Fontwell.

In what was a really decent heat, My Khaleesi had to settle for a share of the spoils after looking a likely winner when kicking for home early, only to slightly run out of gas up the Cheltenham hill.

The other winner, Irish Roe, has Festival targets on her agenda this term which is probably a good indicator of the value of the form.

PEAT THE FEAT is at his best dominating inferior rivals in small fields and he should get the chance to do that in the T I Engineering Structural Ltd Handicap Chase.

He may turn 13 in a few weeks but he has not competed off a mark this low for four years.

This is a much weaker race than that which he reappeared in and, while he could do with a bit more cut in the ground, he simply looks the best horse in the race. SELECTIONS: FONTWELL: 12.40 Hermosa Vaquera, 1.10 Lough Derg Island, 1.40 Rainbow Dreamer, 2.10 Peat The Feat, 2.40 My Khaleesi, 3.10 Slidecheck, 3.40 Sir Hubert.

UTTOXETER: 12.30 Overawed, 1.00 Applesandpierres, 1.30 Champers On Ice, 2.00 Al Destoor, 2.30 Baraza, 3.00 Return Flight, 3.30 Neon Wolf.

DOUBLE: Rainbow Dreamer Champers On Ice. and