Time to Storm to victory at Newbury

Storm Goddess can claim compensation for her Cheltenham Festival mishap in the BV Handicap Hurdle at Newbury tomorrow.

Charlie Longsdon’s mare was quietly fancied to run a big race in last week’s ultracompetitive Pertemps Network Final.

She got no further than the second flight, however, unseating Tom Buckley.

Storm Goddess is clearly none the worse for that experience, because she is redirected here quickly.

Buckley can again claim 5lb, and there is plenty of form in the book from last autumn which indicates he could be in business this time.

Storm Goddess was receiving more than two stones when she just got the better of the classy Younevercall in a Kempton Pertemps qualifier over three furlongs shorter than this in November.

That nonetheless demonstrated she is well capable of winning off her current rating, and she also ran a very creditable race in Listed com- pany over an extended three miles to sign off for the winter before the ground got too deep.

She has her preferred conditions here, and clearly should be ready to do herself justice.

Earlier on the card, Masters Legacy ought to be well tuned up too in the BetVictor Handicap Hurdle.

Philip Hobbs’ lightly-raced six-year-old appeared to be in need of the run when he returned from an absence of more than 400 days at Taunton last month.

He ran with promise nonetheless, leading three out before weakening to finish an 18-length fourth on handicap debut.

As a previous winner over three furlongs further, the likelihood must be that it was fitness rather than stamina that gave out so improvement can be expected.

All four of Masters Legacy’s career starts have been at Taunton, including backto-back wins in the space of a month last season.

He tries something different here. But there is no obvious reason why it should be a problem – and after being dropped 2lb for his comeback effort, he has been given a chance to prove himself in this decent company.

Minella Bobo is another who looks very fairly-weighted in the BetVictor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

This feature chase on the card, run for the Brown Chamberlin Trophy, presents a timely opportunity for Rebecca Curtis’ back-to-form eight-year-old.

Minella Bobo has had only eight career starts but is a point-to-point, hurdles and chase winner.

He did not jump a regulation fence until last October, and took time to find his feet – having previously been off the track for more than 550 days.