Candy out for sweet success

KIMBERLITE Candy can boost his Grand National hopes with victory in the McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick tomorrow.

Tom Lacey’s charge has already proven his mettle over the Aintree fences, safely negotiating all the obstacles to finish second to Walk In The Mill in last month’s Becher Chase.

Having his first run since pulling up in the Irish National at Easter, Kimberlite Candy was staying on well at the end of the three and a quarter miles on Merseyside, but the winner just had his measure.

A 3lb rise does not look too harsh for a two-and-a-half-length defeat, and Kimberlite Candy is certainly capable of winning a race like this.

He is versatile in terms of ground, having won in both heavy and good to soft conditions, and a win here would almost certainly guarantee his place in the Aintree line-up in April.

Keen On can extend his winning run to three in the Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle.

Owned by the Queen, Keen On made a decent start when beating Protektorat on his hurdling bow before following up at Southwell with the ground seemingly not ideal on either occasion.

Clearly Keen On has a touch of class and can make that count.

Two For Gold is another with plenty of momentum behind him as he heads into the McCoy Contractors 2020 Construction News-Awards Finalist Hampton Novices’ Chase. Kim Bailey takes a jump up the ladder with his charge, following chase wins at Carlisle and Kelso.