Volatile can continue explosive run of form despite weight hike

● Four-year-old enjoying new lease of life

Volatile can continue his tremendous run of form in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap at Southwell.

The four-year-old’s career looked to going backwards last summer, but he appears to have been completely reinvigorated since moving to Jamie Osborne’s yard for 32,000 guineas last October.

Since making a pleasing debut for his new connections at Lingfield early in the new year, Volatile has racked up a hat-trick of victories, including two on the Fibresand at Southwell.

Despite not having his own way out in front like he had on his previous two outings, Osborne’s charge showed a willing attitude to prevail once more on his latest start a fortnight ago and in current mood a 5lb hike might not be enough to stop him going in again.

Acker Bilk won as he liked at Southwell less than a week ago and can strike again while the iron is hot in the Betway Middle Distance Handicap.

The son of Rip Van Winkle broke his duck in some style at Wolverhampton in early January and following two solid runner-up efforts, the application of cheekpieces eked out enough improvement to help him get back in the winner’s enclosure.

Assuming the headgear does the same job at the second time of asking, he must have every chance of following up under the 6lb penalty.

Theglasgowarrior looks set to claim a third Newcastle success in the Betway Handicap.

Jim Goldie’s charge won here in December and January and ran a perfectly sound race when third on his latest visit to Gosforth Park last month.

He occupied the same finishing position at Wolverhampton last time out and with Phil Dennis taking a handy 3lb off his back, this looks a good opportunity for him to get back on the winning trail.

Amuletum is of definite interest in the 32Red.com Fillies’ Handicap.

The New Approach filly shaped with promise on each of her two starts at Dundalk for Mick Halford and Godolphin and changed hands for 75,000 guineas at Tattersalls in December.

There was plenty to like about her first start for Peter Chapple-hyam over the course and distance just under three weeks ago as she finished third and she makes her handicap debut off what appears a very workable mark of 65.

Jumping fare comes from Hereford, where Geordie Des Champs should be backed in the myracing.com Novices’ Chase.

It has been a tough season for trainer Rebecca Curtis, who has saddled fewer than ten winners this term, but there have been signs of a resurgence in the last few weeks.

Geordie Des Champs was a very useful hurdler last season, notably finishing a closeup third in a competitive handicap at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. He was bitterly disappointing on his chasing debut on Merseyside in November, but won as he liked on his latest appearance at Taunton in January and should go close again.

Meanwhile, County Hurdle winner Mohaayed has the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr on 21 April as his next target. His victory at the Cheltenham Festival reduced trainer Dan Skelton to tears as it was a first win at the meeting for jockey Bridget Andrews, Skelton’s brother Harry’s longterm partner.

The six-year-old was raised 7lb for his win, taking him to a mark of 146 and Skelton said: “Mohaayed will go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle. I wouldn’t be forgetting this year that the Swinton at Haydock is worth £100,000 as well – he is also likely to get his ground there.

“He knew for a day or two that he had a race at Cheltenham, but then they do. I don’t think the majority of the Cheltenham horses have come out as rattled as they normally do because the ground was that much softer, but he knows he has had a run.”