The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Vale looks to build on fine chasing debut
TIPS: Nicky Henderson’s inmate back in action after impressive Ludlow bow
KILCREA VALE made quite a splash on his fencing bow and is the one to be on in the Weatherbys Hamilton Graduation Chase at Market Rasen.
A £100,000 purchase back in May 2014, Kilcrea Vale has yet to really justify that kind of price-tag with one win in four hurdles starts hardly setting the world alight.
However, he was probably always more of a chasing prospect given he won a point-to-point in Ireland before joining Nicky Henderson, and that impression was confirmed with a 19-length drubbing of Zamdy Man at Ludlow last month.
He won with any amount in hand and given Zamdy Man landed a decent novice chase at Hereford last week, the form is working out pretty well.
BRANDON HILL showed plenty of guts to win last time and a similar attitude should yield equally as positive results in the Betfred “Treble Odds On All Lucky 15’s” Handicap Chase at Newbury.
The nine-year-old will be having just his third start over fences, but he showed he is learning with every outing when stepping on his initial sixth to win at Warwick last month.
Brandon Hill was shouldering top weight but turned in a fine round of jumping, bar one mistake, to have his rivals in trouble some way out before just holding on at the line.
It would be fair to expect Brandon Hill to progress again for that experience and he can shrug off a 7lb rise with victory.
FINAL CHOICE is the pick in the opening Betfred “Supports Jack Berry House” Juvenile Hurdle.
He impressed when winning by eight lengths at this track on New Year’s Eve and can stake his Cheltenham claim with another victory in this event. SELECTIONS:
MARKET RASEN: 1.00 Master Of Irony, 1.35 Sue Oscar, 2.10 Lyme Park, 2.40 KILCREA VALE (NAP), 3.15 Attimo, 3.45 Pads.
NEWBURY: 1.15 Final Choice, 1.50 Hidden Cargo, 2.20 Max Ward, 2.55 Brandon Hill, 3.25 Theatre Territory, 3.55 Bang On Frankie.
DOUBLE: Kilcrea Vale and Brandon Hill.