Survivor to make successful return
Dan Skelton looks booked for a big day at Wetherby tomorrow where Born Survivor can take advantage of a bit of respite from the assessor in the Cash Out At Bet365 Handicap Chase.
Fourth in the race 12 months ago on what was also his reappearance, he only ran twice more last season when fourth in the Peterborough Chase and fourth to Frodon in a Grade Two at Kempton.
He is 3lb lower for his first run of the campaign this time around in what is arguably a weaker renewal.
As Two For Gold looks better suited to three miles, Born Survivor's main rival is surely the ultra-consistent top weight Happy Diva and she simply does not know how to run a bad race.
She was second last year off 142, won what is now again the Paddy Power Gold Cup next time out and went on to be second at the Festival off 149, but surely a mark of 153 on her first run of the season will prove beyond her.
Skelton's Shan Blue has to give another horse placed at the Festival – Mick Channon's Hold The Note – 6lb in the Bet365 Novices' Chase, which on the face of it could prove difficult given they have the same official rating.
However, Shan Blue looked a smart proposition when winning on his seasonal reappearance over this course and distance 16 days ago.
He was set some stiff tasks over hurdles against the likes of Shishkin and Envoi Allen, but he looks tailor-made for fences and can take high rank.
Ske lt on' s Third Time Lucki fared best of the British in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when fourth and made a fine transition to hurdles at Uttoxeter.
He carries a penalty in the Bet365 Novices' Hurdle, but should prove up to the task if he has any pretensions of making up into a Graded performer.
Rose Dobbin's Some Reign threatened to be a good horse in his younger days, but never quite fulfilled his promise.
He won last timeout, though, and the penny may finally have dropped for the nine-year-old who runs in the Each Way Extra At Bet365 Handicap Chase.
Colin Tizzard has spoken highly of his new recruit Fulgurix, who makes his British debut in the first division of the Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Novices' Hurdle at Uttoxeter.
Bought privately by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, he is likely to take a fair bit of beating, although previously a few of Tizzard's string have looked as though they are in need of their first runs of the season.
The second division sees Harry Fry' s classy bumper performer Get In The Queue return to action having missed the whole of last season.