NU HEIGHTS
Skelton star can have a Celebration to savour at Sandown
NUBE NEGRA is the ray of light for punters in Sandown’s bet365 Celebration Chase (3.00).
Fit and fresh after missing Cheltenham, the eight-year-old has a class edge over his rivals.
Fancied to outrun his odds in the Champion Chase, conditions lived up to the horse’s name – black cloud in Spanish – when soft ground led to his withdrawal.
The natural next target, this Grade 1, is winnable now he is in top form – and he can overturn Tingle Creek form with
Greaneteen.
Top-rated of the five runners, Nube Negra proved he is fully capable of a bold show in the spring when runner-up at Cheltenham in 2021.
The selection goes particularly well after a break and is fancied to see off consistent chaser Sceau Royal, who will also love the prevailing conditions.
Greaneteen’s trainer Paul Nicholls will fancy his chances of taking the bet365 Oaksey Chase (2.25) with SAINT
CALVADOS.
The Grade 2 event looks the ideal race to inspire the nine-year-old back to winning ways.
A fine third in the King George on his stable debut, he appeared to be regaining his spark when racing with zest in the Melling Chase.
Fifth that day, when Mister Fisher was pulled up, he receives 6lb from Nicky Henderson’s charge and the selection has done most of his winning in small fields.
Stan Sheppard has enjoyed a truly memorable season and DIBBLE DECKER should be a fine spin in the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap
Hurdle (1.50). The son of Jet Away knuckled down to defeat a future winner at Taunton, where he was the well supported 6-4 favourite.
Tom Lacey’s improver won a point and has stepped up on his early hurdling exploits in recent weeks.
Still on a nice mark, he is just 5lb higher than his outing at the Somerset venue and his light campaign is favourable.
Head Law arrives on a four-timer and is much respected in the colours of JP McManus, despite a substantial rise in the weights, while Knappers Hill will be all the better for a confidence-boosting round at Newton Abbot.
At Haydock, BOARDMAN catches the eye in the Great Shevington Handicap (2.05).
Given a pipe-opener at Redcar, he was drawn poorly but finished well on the outside of the field.
Priced at 20-1 with the bookies, he was just two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.
Last season, the six-year-old’s mark rose to a high of 97 in the aftermath of a hat-trick.
The final win in the sequence came from an identical berth of 90 that he lines up off this afternoon.
PATH OF THUNDER is fancied to scoop the £22,684 first prize in Leicester’s EBF Stallions King Richard III Stakes (2.45).
An excellent fourth behind Real World in a Group 2 at Meydan, his sights are lowered to Listed level with Will Buick in the saddle.
Chasing a first title, the jockey is operating at a 35 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight – and trainer Charlie Appleby’s is even higher.