Terrefort set for winning return
TERREFORT can tee himself up for a possible crack at the Ladbrokes Trophy with a reappearance win in the 188Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase at Sandown.
The grey had not impressed Nicky Henderson at home on his arrival from France and was rather unheralded when he made his British debut at Huntingdon.
That day in January he laughed at a mark of 137 and to show how far out it was he won his next start in Grade One company in the Scilly Isles.
It was on to Cheltenham next where he found only Gordon Elliott’s Shattered Love too good in the JLT Novices’ Chase but he ended the season in perfect fashion when coping with the step up to three miles at Aintree.
He beat Ms Parfois there, who had gone close in the four-miler at Cheltenham, with Elegant Escape back in third and this looks the perfect starting point.
There will not be a dry eye if Pete The Feat can win his own race, the Veterans’ Handicap Chase, but Rock Gone has youth on his side.
Four years younger at just 10, Rock Gone is trained by Dr Richard Newland who can do little wrong at present.
He was last seen chasing home Go Conquer at Ascot a year ago, which as recent form in the context of this race goes is head and shoulders the best.
Obviously tricky to train, he has only raced 13 times, if he is fully fit he will take plenty of beating.
Vivas’ fluent jumping can prove a huge asset in the Best Odds Guaranteed At 188Bet Chase.
Others are likely to be ahead of Charlie Longsdon’s seven-year-old in the market.
But in back-to-back wins in just two attempts over fences so far, at Plumpton and Fontwell last month, Vivas has demonstrated an excellent technique over the obstacles.
That will be tested again here, with Sandown a renowned and exacting examination of fencing - but Vivas and Jonathan Burke should be up to the task again.
Good Boy Bobby is potentially a very nice horse for Nigel TwistonDavies and can notch another victory in the Ethical Power Novices’ Hurdle at Ffos Las.
He won his first two bumpers looking exceptional but met with defeat at Newbury in a Listed contest in deep ground.
Back to winning ways at Wetherby, he has since made a winning hurdling debut at Carlisle and as of yet the dream is well and truly alive with him.
Recent rain means Colin Tizzard has been unleashing some of his better horses, and Albert Bartlett winner Kilbricken Storm should be very hard to beat in the Rob Davies Chemists Novices’ Chase.
A surprising winner at the Cheltenham Festival, he proved that was no fluke when almost following up at Punchestown
Already seven, he looks a staying chaser and should be made for this.