Zambella to claim yet more Listed gold

Zambella has turned into a very consistent mare for Nigel Twiston-Davies and if she puts in a clear round, she should have no trouble in adding to her tally at Leicester tomorrow.

The seven-year-old faces just three rivals in the Listed Pertemps Network Mares’ Chase and even with a penalty, she has a good bit in hand of her rivals.

While the Stuart Edmunds-trained Maskada is a likeable type who likes to get on with things, on recent evidence Zambella should simply have too much class.

Having finished fourth on her seasonal return at Wetherby over hurdles behind Molly Ollys Wishes over two miles, she looked much better over fences next time out.

She looked to have plenty on her plate up against Annie Mc and Willie Mullins’ Elimay, but Zambella put them to the sword from some way out and won without ever really coming under any pressure.

More recently at Doncaster she was an even easier winner, making all for a 15-length success.

While both those wins came at Listed level, she only carries one penalty and though the drop back to two miles may not be exactly what she wants, she has looked so good of late it is hard to go against her.

Zambella has won eight of her 18 races and is rated 142 yet Nicky Henderson’s Dusart, who runs in the Pertemps Network Novices’ Chase, is already rated 141 after just two races, such is his potential.

On his racecourse debut at Newbury in November 2020 he beat Jonjo O’Neill’s Soaring Glory, who went on to win the Betfair Hurdle and finish fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Unfortunately Dusart picked up an injury which ruled him out of Cheltenham but he was fine for Aintree and for a horse having just his second ever outing, he ran with great credit to be third in a Grade One, beaten a little over two lengths by Belfast Banter.

He looked the likely winner there jumping two out, but the lack of experience and a recent run just told close home.

Henderson sends him chasing relatively late in the season, but he is a horse with huge scope for improvement.

Chris Gordon is enjoying a successful season and Only Money can continue the good run in the Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase.

A winner from a low mark at Huntingdon in May, for which the handicapper hit him with a 12lb rise, he was well beaten on his return to action at Plumpton in November. He shaped much better last time out in a class three event at Newbury and drops in grade for this, off a 2lb lower mark.