Western Morning News (Saturday)
Greaneteen can spark celebrations at Sandown
GREANETEEN can successfully defend his crown in the bet365 Celebration Chase, the Grade One highlight on the final day of the jumps season at Sandown this afternoon.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old beat the now-retired Altior in this Grade One contest 12 months ago and again showed his liking for Sandown when plundering the Tingle Creek in December.
Admittedly he returns with something to prove after finishing tailed off on his latest appearance at Leopardstown in February, but the champion trainer’s string was under a cloud at the time and he has been given plenty of time to recover from whatever was ailing him on that occasion.
Good ground is another plus as the yielding conditions in Ireland also did not play to his strengths.
Nicholls should also be on the mark with Enrilo, who can make amends for being demoted to third when first past the post in last year’s bet365 Gold Cup.
Sent off favourite under Harry Skelton, everything had gone to plan until after the last when he hung badly to his left, impeding Kitty’s Light.
Unfortunately for the connections of Kitty’s Light, Potterman finished in front of him on the other side of Enrilo and it was he who was awarded the race.
Nicholls has clearly targeted Enrilo at this prize once more. He is still only eight and having had just three runs this season, he comes here fresher than most, certainly more than the unfortunate Kitty’s Light and his stablemate Win My Wings, who dominated the Scottish National three weeks ago.
Enrilo carries just 1lb more than last year, will love the ground and Nicholls is finishing the season with a flourish, with his 13th championship.
Mister Fisher is a tentative choice in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s charge was only narrowly beaten by Frodon in last year’s renewal and is undoubtedly a class act on his day.
This season has been a little underwhelming in truth, as aside from a smart Grade Two win at Kempton, he has been well beaten on each of his outings, most recently pulling up at Aintree.
This sort of trip on decent ground is his bag, though, and he is given another chance.
Indefatigable was running a fine race at Cheltenham before coming to grief at the second last and compensation could await in the bet365 Select Hurdle.
Whizz Kid, meanwhile, is of clear interest in the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle.
A high-class Flat performer in Germany and France, the six-year-old was thrown in the deep end on his hurdling and British debut here in January when finishing last of five in the Tolworth.
Having faced a near impossible task in taking on Constitution Hill that day, Whizz Kid made the most of having his sights lowered when victorious on his next two starts at Catterick and Ludlow and was well fancied for his handicap debut at Aintree a fortnight ago.
A couple of crucial mistakes in the jumping department cost him dearly that day as he was only beaten three lengths into fourth place.
If he can iron out that part of his game, Whizz Kind remains feasibly handicapped from just 1lb higher in the weights.
Path Of Thunder gets the vote in the featured EBF Stallions King Richard III Stakes at Leicester.
This son of Night Of Thunder is fit from a campaign in Dubai, where he won a conditions event and finished fourth in a Group Two.
His trainer Charlie Appleby could not be in better form and appears to have found this five-year-old a good opportunity to secure a first Listed success.
Alrehb has won his last two all-weather outings and can make a seamless transition to turf in the £50,000 Great Shevington Handicap at Haydock.