Be Brave and side with Empire to strike again
LINGFIELD stages a classy afternoon of action today, and Brave Empire can take a starring role in the BetMGM AWC 3 Year Old Trial Handicap.
Roger Varian’s charge has a fine record of three wins in five starts, winning twice as a juvenile last term before adding another triumph on his most recent run.
The Dark Angel colt suffered a short-priced defeat on his first start of 2024, but he put that well behind him when prevailing by a head in a thrilling finish over the same six furlongs he faces here at the start of the month.
While Rosario would be the pick on his Group-race placings of last year, top-weight and a lack of a recent run could had the initiative to Brave Empire.
Stalemate Dragon Icon showed signs of a return to form with a recent fourth, which looks an excellent springboard for the BetUK AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap.
Two novice wins prompted Varian to raise his sights to Group Two level in the German 2000 Guineas, where he ran well for a long way before fading in the finish on what transpired to be his last three-year-old start.
He looked in need of his return in January and clearly took a step forward as he was subsequently beaten half a length in fourth at Kempton, when he was staying on all the way to the line over a mile.
Switching up to 10 furlongs here could bring about further improvement, with his mark of 93 also looking quite appealing.
Batal Dubai should be in the mix once again in the BetUK AWC Sprint Trial Handicap.
A third place on New Year’s Day was followed by a narrow second at Kempton in mid-February and he is clearly capable off his current perch of 92.
Spartan Army can bring up his hat-trick for Alan King in the BetUK AWC Marathon Trial Handicap.
He was twice a winner in February, scoring by a neck at the start of the month before following up off a 2lb higher mark, with seemingly plenty in hand.
His 5lb penalty here puts him marginally wrong off his revised rating, but the son of Highland Reel appears to have a bit up his sleeve.
Toss Of A Coin can oblige for the title-chasing duo of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden in the Download The BetVictor App “National Hunt”
Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury. A winning pointer in Ireland, he made a successful start under rules in an Exeter novice hurdle in December and while the form of that has not worked out brilliantly, Toss Of A Coin was a convincing victor.
Ground conditions are set to have a major bearing on Libberty Hunter’s participation at the Cheltenham Festival later this month.
Trained by Evan Williams, the eight-year-old has made a bright start to his chasing career and having recovered from a fall on his fences bow by winning with ease at Wincanton on his second outing over the larger obstacles, landed a blow in a highly-competitive event at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day.
He claimed the scalp of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Arkle-bound Matata on that occasion and is as short as 9-1 in places for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual.
However, with the best of Libberty Hunter’s form coming with soft underfoot conditions, Williams is willing to delay confirming the gelding’s participation until the going at the track becomes clearer.
He said: “I couldn’t say we’re aiming at it (the Grand Annual), but he has an entry and we will see how the weather is. He will want plenty of cut in the ground.”