MAN OF ACTION
Drinks will be on Bryony after Badger Beers
PRESENT MAN i s giftwrapped for a record third victory in the Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase ( 2.25) at Wincanton this afternoon.
Bryony Frost’s mount is one of f i v e horses t o l and d t he three- mile, one- furlong ng test twice, scoring in n
2017 and 2018.
Twelve months ago,
Present Man missed the target in his hat- trick quest when he was as pulled up as his stableblemate Give Me A Copper gave Paul Nicholls a 10th triumph in the race.
But the 10- year- old was back with a bang on his first outing since when landing a veterans’ handicap chase at Chepstow last month, coming out on top in a three- way photo with Crosspark and Dancing Shadow by a nose. A 2lb rise looks manageable and Present Man, who has been inside the Wincanton winner’s enclosure four times, can put his course knowledge to good use. Nicholls’ GRAND SANCY will be odds on f or the Grade 2 “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase ( 2.25), and Harry C o b d e n’s p a r t n e r should have too much c l a s s f o r h i s t w o opponents.
He won the same race fou four years ago and SCEAU ROYAL again has strong claims i n t he Grade 2 Unibet Elit e Hurdle ( 3.00).
A winner at the highest level over fences for Alan King ( left), the son of Doctor Dino shone back over timber at Chepstow on his return to the fray 20 days ago, and will be hard to beat. The
Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle ( 1.50) looks open, but the Jamie Snowden- trained ONEOFTHESENIGHTS wil l be suited by conditions and is lightly raced for a nine- year- old horse.
At Aintree, Nicky Henderson’s CALL ME LORD, like Sceau Royal carr ying t he si l ks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, is the choice f rom the sextet who assemble for the williamhill. com Best Odds Guaranteed Hurdle ( 2.40).
On Doncaster ’s November Handicap undercard, BRANDO should make use of a drop in grade f or t he Li st ed Betfair Wentworth Stakes ( 1.30).
The Listed Betfair Exchange British EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes ( 2.05) can go to TREFOIL, who is t aken t o tur n r ound re cent Newmarket running with Anna Nerium.