In for a penny at Warwick
IN REM has been a different horse since transferring to the care of Jan Williams and can chalk up an impressive sixth successive victory at Warwick.
He had looked promising in his sole bumper start back in 2019, but he proved disappointing in three hurdles outings for Gary Moore last season and was then sent to Williams at the start of the current campaign.
The seven-year-old has seemingly been revitalised by a change in surroundings, wasting little time in getting off the mark for his new handler at Ffos Las in October, before adding victories at Exeter and Wincanton, plus two at Warwick on his most recent runs.
Having started the season on a mark of 82, he is now rated 120, having incurred another 5lb rise for his last success when running out a very ready half-length winner over the same three and a quarter miles he faces in the Micky Boughey, Cobblers To ‘Em All Handicap Hurdle.
In Rem is obviously on a career high now, but Williams has found the key to keep him progressing.
In contrast, stablemate Galice Macalo has yet to strike in six runs this term, but she should not be dismissed in the EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase.
She finished a creditable third at Ludlow on her last outing and her official rating of 124 gives her the edge here.
Lac De Constance has to concede upwards of 12lb all round in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Novices’ Hurdle, but his recent Listed victory underlines his potential.
Having triumphed by eight and a half lengths at Exeter on his penultimate start, Dan Skelton took the sixyear-old back to that track to turn over an odds-on favourite in Peking Rose.
While the runner-up made a costly mistake late in the day, Lac De Constance was still travelling well and it is hard to say how the race would have played out.
Skelton’s charge is clearly pretty smart though and can make his class tell.
Hyland is on a fair mark of 109 as he takes his first step into handicap company for Nicky Henderson.
No match for the smart Skytastic when third at Doncaster recently, that effort represented an improvement on two previous runs and further progression is expected in the Watch On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.
Jungle Jack can spearhead a Bangor double for Donald Mccain and Brian Hughes in the Broxton Gates Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old is unbeaten in four starts so far, winning a point to point before joining Mccain and winning each of his three runs to date.
A narrow victor on his first two runs, he came home 11 lengths clear last time and while the distance was enhanced as a rival made a mistake late on, there is no doubt Jungle Jack is a horse on the up.