Russell veteran backed to live up to his name

Tips: Lightly-raced 12-year-old will benefit from better ground at Doncaster

REAPING THE REWARD just failed to see out the trip in very heavy ground when last seen at Sandown but can return to winning ways in the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Doncaster.

Lucinda Russell’s 12-year-old may be coming up against younger opponents but he showed that he was right at the top of his game in Esher.

For much of the three-mile trip, he travelled like the best horse and when Richard Johnson produced him at the last it looked a matter of how far he would win by.

Unfortunately the ground that day was desperate and the Sandown hill found him out, with notorious slogger Soll and the consistent Aachen seeing it out better.

Back on a sounder surface and off the same handicap mark, Reaping The Reward should be the one to watch.

He may be 12 but this will only be his 22nd career outing, so it is not as if he has been over-raced.

MENDIP EXPRESS can set himself up for Cheltenham with victory in the Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy (An Open Hunters’ Chase) at Ludlow.

Now with Philip Hobbs, the 10-yearold was rated as high as 147 during his time with Harry Fry.

Bought to win the Foxhunter at Cheltenham, he sauntered to victory on his first outing at Warwick and connections will be hoping for a similar outcome prior to the big meeting.

SELECTIONS: DONCASTER: 2.00 Divine Spear, 2.30 Lou Vert, 3.00 Mount Haven, 3.30 REAPING THE REWARD (NAP), 4.05 Paint The Clouds, 4.40 Toosey, 5.10 Rather Be.

LUDLOW: 2.10 Score Card, 2.40 Drumshambo, 3.10 Hill Fort, 3.40 Oficial Ben, 4.15 Charlie Cook, 4.50 Mendip Express, 5.20 Kapgarde King.

DOUBLE: Reaping The Reward and Sloane Avenue.

Lucinda Russell: sends out Reaping The Reward today.