Coeur De Lion ready to roar at Nottingham

King’s charge can reign over field on return to the Flat

COEUR DE LION should be fit and ready for the Bettinggods.com Value Racing Tips Handicap at Nottingham.

Alan King’s charge returns to the Flat after a rewarding spell over hurdles, where he won twice and was generally far from disgraced.

He ran subsequent Triumph Hurdle hero Defi Du Seuil to less than two lengths at Cheltenham in December and finished seventh to that horse in the big one at the festival in March.

It is no surprise to see him go back on the level, as he has useful form in that sphere, too, including a second to London Prize, who went on to win the Imperial Cup, over a mile and six furlongs of this circuit.

That run in October was his last one on the Flat and he is back off just a 1lb higher mark and also over two miles, which can only play to the strengths of this strong-staying sort, who should love the ground.

DI ALTA has a good opportunity to make a winning reappearance in the shape of the bettinggods.com Sports Guru British EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

This had looked like being a fair contest at the entry stage, but has cut up quite badly and it will be disappointing in the daughter of High Chaparral cannot make her presence felt off an initial mark of 77, with the step up to a mile and quarter likely to suit.

SHARGIAH is the pick in the Gospelware App Technology Handicap at Newcastle. The Roger Variantrained four-year-old found 10 furlongs to his liking at Windsor to beat a consistent sort in Eskendash and the handicapper has not gone mad. There should be a bit more to come. SELECTIONS: NEWCASTLE: 2.10 The Name’s Paver, 2.40 Geordie George, 3.10 Shagriah, 3.40 Master Singer, 4.10 Omran, 4.40 More Beau, 5.10 Mabs Cross, 5.40 Marseille. NOTTINGHAM: 2.00 Panophobia, 2.30 Glacier Point, 3.00 COEUR DE LION (NAP), 3.30 Di Alta, 4.00 Starchitecture, 4.30 Al Nafforah, 5.00 Roy’s Legacy. DOUBLE: Coeur De Lion and Di Alta.