Look no further than Xpo Universel
REBECCA MENZIES is currently one of the most in-form trainers in the country and her Xpo Universel should be able to bring up the hat-trick in the £50 Risk Free On Racing With Smarkets Novices’ Handicap Chase at Carlisle.
Menzies is really putting herself on the map this season and while she has had to make her name by rejuvenating older horses from other yards, her success has seen her rewarded with some nice youngsters.
Xpo Universel does not fall into that category - he turns 10 in a few weeks - but since getting hold of him from her old mentor Ferdy Murphy in France she has won three with him, two in recent weeks.
A 12-length winner at this track at the start of the month, he then defied a penalty by some 21 lengths at Kelso.
Those two wins were over hurdles, but he is massively unexposed over fences having only had four runs and given he is in such great heart, he should surely take all the beating.
Nigel Twiston-Davies is never scared of sending his horses north and One For Rosie rates an exciting prospect in the Smarkets National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old won a Bangor bumper in October 2017, but was not seen again until last month at this venue.
Kidded along by Sam TwisonDavies, he oozed class in winning by five lengths on the bridle. This race looks a little tougher, but it will be very disappointing if he is beaten.
Reverant Cust hails from the small yard of Peter and Lucinda Atkinson but they know what they are doing and he can win again in the Smarkets Chase.
He improved markedly over hurdles last season - to the tune of 21lb and scored on his chasing debut at Catterick.
Having jumped like an old hand there, he should be able to take advantage of what looks a lenient mark.
Big River has plenty of class about him and after a fall on his seasonal return over fences he finds himself in a Pertemps qualifier over hurdles.
As long as he has not been scarred he could quite easily outclass his rivals.
Umbrigado looks the safest proposition at Southwell in the mintbet. com Maiden Hurdle.
David Pipe’s string are slowly emerging from a very quiet period and this four-year-old won a Uttoxeter bumper in taking fashion.
Pipe appears to have found him a winnable opportunity for his hurdling debut.
Henry Daly’s Stoney Mountain has created a good impression in two outings this year and while this track could be on the sharp side, he should still take all the beating in the mintbet.com EBF ``National Hunt’’ Novices’ Hurdle.