Zan-tastic chance for Hobbs ace

PHILIP HOBBS has launched at a series of top-class handicap chases, in most of which he has run with credit without quite claiming first prize.

But the handicapper has now shown the eightyear-old enough leniency to think he can win the Sir Peter O’sullevan Memorial Chase (1.20) on the big Newbury card today.

Zanza races lazily and has an unerring ability to clatter into any horse that falls in front of him.

However, he can usually be relied upon for a stirring finish and, off a mark 13lb below his career high of 147, I fancy he will go close.

It was a typical Zanza display at Wetherby last time, getting behind despite blinkers on for the first time, then coming with such a late rush that he may have got up to beat Karl Philippe but for a clumsy jump at the last.

Unlike Zanza, classy

FIDDLERONTHEROOF

has excellent selfpreservation skills.

He tiptoed around the stricken Remastered four fences from home in the race now called the Coral Gold Cup (3.05) 12 months ago, before getting to within half a length of the winner Cloudy Glen. And he carefully navigated two laps of Aintree in the

Grand National, finishing fifth after losing his place only from the second last.

He had an ideal prep in a handicap hurdle at Kempton, coming home strongly over an inadequate trip, and perhaps cheekpieces on for the first time can help him win a mega prize he so clearly deserves.

The drying ground will not favour a number of fancied runners in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (1.55).

MALAKAHNA,

on the other hand, will relish it. This exciting and far-from-exposed fouryear-old, ended last season with a hat-trick of wins, all on good ground.

Ian Williams’ (above) filly then ended her Flat campaign with a couple of gutsy handicap successes at Ascot and Newmarket over two miles.

On the evidence of those victories, she will be even more potent stepped up to 2m4f over hurdles as is the case today.

TODAY’S SELECTIONS Zanza

1.20 Newbury

Malakahna (ew)

1.55 Newbury

Fiddlerontheroof (ew)

3.05 Newbury

IN THE ZONE Zanza (right) could make the most of a drop in his rating