By Charlie McCann
Today's feature action comes from Haydock, where Kilgeel Hill (3.10) can continue his progressive profile in the novices' hurdle over two and a half miles. Last year's renewal saw Urban Hymn lay a marker down for the upcoming festivals and Oliver Sherwood's son of Oscar can do likewise after his impressive victory earlier this month at Leicester. The selection has improved on all three starts and looks sure to relish today's testing conditions better than most, under in-form jockey Leighton Aspell.
Aspell rides the ever-consistent Global Power in the feature handicap chase, but he looks up against it with the handicapper raising him 2lb for chasing home Theatrical Star earlier this month at Fontwell. Venetia Williams' stable thrive in this sphere, as seen with Emperors Choice battling bravely to win last week's Welsh National, and Royal Palladium (2.40) gets the nod to land the four-timer under regular partner Aidan Coleman. The selection defied a penalty with the minimum of fuss to complete the hat-trick in similar conditions last time out at Market Rasen, and despite being 24lb higher at the weights since the beginning of his run, is a confident selection to maintain his excellent run of form, stepping up in both distance and grade.
Seven go to post for a fascinating renewal of the veterans chase with old favourite Big Fella Thanks (2.10) fancied to take advantage of his plundering mark under Alan Cawley. The 12-y-o has a good record fresh and is now 6lb lower than his last winning mark when cantering to success nearly two years ago at Wincanton. The trip looks absolutely ideal for him at this stage of his career and Tom George's old boy is fancied to get the better of Sue Smith's Mr Moonshine and Chris Gordon's hat-trick seeking King Edmund, who reverts back over fences after winning a pair of novice hurdles at Lingfield and Plumpton.
There's a solid card at Taunton where Opening Batsman (3.30) warrants another chance after disappointing last time out at Ludlow. The Harry Fry-trained inmate looked unsuited by the chance in tactics but should be ridden more prominently under Noel Fehily, fresh on the back of making all on Silviniaco Conti to win the King George last month at Kempton. That defeat has seen him dropped another 4lb by the handicapper and he looks well-treated to return to winning ways, from a career-low mark of 129.
Evan Williams' horses tend to thrive in novices' handicap chases and Allez Vic (2.30) can give weight and a beating to eight rivals in the three miles contest under Paul Moloney. The 8-y-o is having just third start for the yard, and third start over fences, since leaving his native Ireland but remains unexposed and open to plenty of improvement, running from an unrevised mark after last week's excellent second in similar contest on Welsh National day at Chepstow.
If this afternoon's jump racing falls foul to the elements then there's always all-weather action from Lingfield where Charlie Swan's Shorana (1.20) looks a fascinating runner with Jamie Spencer an eye-catching jockey booking in the plate. The Holy Roman Emperor filly is having her first run for the yard since an excellent pair of runs for John Oxx, most notably returning from a break to chase home Diylawa at Leopardstown in October. The form of that race looks strong, and from the plumb draw in stall one, is sure to be ridden handily en-route to making it third time lucky for the Irish raider.
Spencer can double up in the feature handicap over a mile aboard Tournament (2.20) another one debuting for a new stable after last month's switch from Andre Fabre to Seamus Durack. The Oasis Dream colt shed the maiden tag at the belated fifth attempt but drops down in grade to contest his first handicap and could be potentially chucked-in from an opening mark of 87.
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