CRACKER JACQUES
Hat-trick on the cards for Sherwood ace
HITHERJACQUES LADY ticks all the boxes in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Finale (3.00) at Newbury.
Oliver Sherwood’s fiveyear-old has taken a step forward on her last two outings to land novice hurdles at Wincanton and Lingfield. Hitherjacques Lady has more on her plate in a bigfield, tightly knit handicap. But Leighton Aspell’s mount has plenty of improvement to come and can rack up the three-timer. Although a fortunate winner at Wincanton 16 days DAWSON CITY ago, has plenty going for him in the opening handicap chase (1.50). The Polly Gundry-trained eight-year-old was a length behind Regal Flow when that rival came to grief three out, leaving him to come home a 32-length winner. But Dawson City would have been involved in the finish and a 6lb rise in the weights looks fair. After a short-head defeat over this trip at Haydock AQUA DUDE last month, can go one better at 2.25. The ITV cameras make a rare visit to Kelso, where TEO VIVO should take some beating in the Belhaven Best Handicap Hurdle (2.05). Successful over course and distance two starts ago, the 10-year-old followed up at Newcastle last time and the hat-trick is on the cards. Seeyouatmidnight – pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November – makes his return in the Edinburgh Gin Handicap Hurdle (2.40), but may have to give SHADES OF MIDNIGHT. best to The Liz Adam Memorial Handicap Chase (3.15) is a SELDOM good chance for INN to score at the Borders course for the third time.