Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Milansbar capable of repeat win, says King
NEIL King believes Milansbar is well capable of successfully defending his crown in Warwick’s McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Chase.
The veteran staying chaser was a comprehensive winner of the threemile-five-furlong marathon last term before going on to finish second in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter and fifth in the Grand National at Aintree in April.
He finished down the field on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month, but trainer King believes that run will have blown away any cobwebs and is expecting an improved performance on his return to Warwick this afternoon.
“I just wonder if there were a couple of things to explain his run at Sandown. One is that he did a little bit too much in front and secondly, maybe he needed the run more than we thought,” said the Marlboroughbased trainer.
“He has been in tremendous form all autumn. His jumping wasn’t as fluent at Sandown, but that might be down to it being his first run back after the Grand National.”
Bryony Frost was aboard Milansbar last season and this year he has the assistance of another leading female rider in Gina Andrews, who claims a handy 3lb.
King added: “He was second off a higher mark than he has now when he ran in the Midlands National last season, so I’d like to think it is within his capability (to win again).”
Mark Bradstock is looking forward to running last season’s bet365 Gold Cup hero Step Back.
The nine-year-old makes his first competitive appearance since coming seventh behind subsequent winners The Young Master, Traffic Fluide and Rock The Kasbah at Chepstow in October.
Bradstock said: “He ran a blinder at Chepstow, looking back at it now. The form has worked out well and the ground was quick enough.
“He has problems with flat feet and high muscle enzymes, but he seems in good form. Hopefully he’ll run well.”
Nigel Twiston-Davies has two leading contenders in Cogry and Calett Mad. The trainer’s son Sam partners Cogry following his narrow success at Cheltenham in December, with James Bowen taking the ride Calett Mad, who was last seen finishing second under a big weight in the Borders National at Kelso.
“Hopefully they’ve both got good chances and I wouldn’t favour one over the other,” said the Naunton handler. “Both horses are going there in good form and stay well, so we’ll see what happens”
Other contenders for the Warwick feature include the Paul Nichollstrained Ibis Du Rheu, Colin Tizzard’s pair of Sizing Codelco and Ultragold, and Duel At Dawn, trained by Alex Hales.