This afternoon’s card across the Irish Sea at Wexford has succumbed to the elements however Fakenham and Southwell prevail on home soil with Jonjo O’Neill’s Mission Complete (12.25) hopefully a good thing in the opening 3m Handicap Chase at the latter. The 9-y-o has been well-backed on his last few starts and was in the process of running well when unseating 10lb conditional Jack Savage las time out over course and distance. He remains on a workable mark and with the yard going well can score for the third time over fences.
Jonjo’s Capard King should prove even better over fences and is a fascinating runner under Richard Johnson in the feature Novices’ Handicap Chase over three miles. He hasn’t been seen since scoring on Scottish National day at Ayr and with a stiff looking mark of 135 preference lies instead with King’s Odyssey (12.55) for the in-form stable of Evan Williams. The selection scored at the belated fourth time of asking over timber but looked every inch a chaser in the making and has form tied into some of last season’s leading novices. From a mark of 131 he is a confident selection to make a winning chase debut under regular partner Paul Moloney.
A Hare’s Breath gave fledgling trainer Ben Pauling a first Cheltenham success on Friday and with the yard going great guns at present Pithivier (2.35) can make a winning reappearance under Nico de Boinville. The selection was bought by new connections after finishing second in a bumper for Peter Niven last spring and showed promise on both starts over hurdles last term; chasing home John Ferguson’s 154-rated hurdler Commissioned at Kempton and finishing fourth in a Listed Hurdle at Exeter. He should prove even better now sent handicapping and looks potentially chucked-in from an opening mark of 110.
Yes I Did (3.05) has been progressive in bumpers for brothers Dan and Harry Skelton and looks the ideal type to make a winning debut over timber in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over the minimum trip. The daughter of Craigsteel was narrowly beaten on her seasonal debut finishing second when well-backed last month at Ludlow and can get the better of Warren Greaterex’s Via Volupta.
Southfield Vic (2.45) boasts the scope to jump a fence and will take all the beating in the Beginners’ Chase down at Fakenham. Paul Nicholls‘ 6-y-o was rated as high as 149 hurdles last term, winning handicaps at Wincanton (twice) and Haydock, and Team Ditcheat appear to have found the perfect opportunity for him to open his account over the larger obstacles.
There’s an excellent eight-race card on the all-weather from Lingfield where Godolphin’s well-bred colt Afnaan (12.10) makes his racecourse debut in the first division of the maiden over a mile. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s couldn’t be in better form, with the Newmarket handler scoring with four of his last six runners, including Jufn making a winning debut under Paul Hanagan in the most remarkable fashion last week at Chelmsford Park. The son of Raven’s Pass is a full brother to a couple of useful sorts and with a Derby entry to his name warrants maximum respect on racecourse debut.
Hanagan can double-up in the second division with Mark Johnston’s Samwway (12.40) bidding to make it second time lucky after a promising debut last month at Leicester. The selection was well-backed prior to finishing fifth in a warm looking maiden five weeks ago on ground softer than ideal and is well-drawn to likely attempt to make all from stall one.
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