Outrage can get back to winning ways
OUTRAGE can cause a bit of a fuss by winning the feature race beneath the Chelmsford floodlights.
The Daniel Kubler-trained five-year-old has been in terrific form of late, having knocked off convincing victories at Kempton and Newcastle.
It was no big surprise, then, that Kubler decided to try Outrage in a better stamp of race back at the last-named venue on December 30.
He did not win, but left Gosforth Park with his reputation intact as he got to within three-quarters of a length of Amazour on his first start over six furlongs since November.
With a clutch of horses from that Newcastle race having since won, most notably runner-up Poyle Vinnie, Kubler and his inmate must surely head to Essex brimming with brio.
Outrage is 2lb higher for the Betfred-sponsored handicap, but that should not be an issue now concerns about his ability to thrive over six furlongs appear to have been allayed.
Keep an eye on African Beat in a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Lingfield.
This three-year-old is by no means a John Gosden superstar, but she is capable at the right level – as evidenced by her tidy maiden success at Wolverhampton in November.
The Cape Cross filly also turned in an interesting display at this track on January 25 when she stayed on diligently to take third spot behind Tisbuta dream.
That was her fifth start over a mile, but all the signs point towards her being in her element over farther.
African Beat now gets to test that hypothesis for a trainer who is enjoying a really good run on the all-weather.
Chase End Charlie holds fine claims of securing backto-back victories when he travels north to Doncaster.
Trained in Herefordshire by the very capable Tom Lacey, this six-year-old is clearly in good order judged by a really convincing success at Wincanton last month.
Sent on his way at odds of 10-1 for a competitive handicap hurdle, Chase End Charlie jumped nicely for Tom Scudamore, whose companion showed a laudable attitude to deny Mondello by a short head.
He also has course-winning form, having landed a maiden hurdle, in which Cheltenham-bound Ami Desbois finished second, last year.