So 1/3 shot MASTER MINDED will win the John Smith’s Melling Chase (due off 3.10pm) - well worth reading 400 or so words to find that out, eh? Don’t worry; here’s a run through of the rest of the card, starting with my idea of the bet of the day, and quite possibly the whole meeting, TAZBAR in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (2.35pm).
His trainer Keith Reveley resisted the urge to run him at Cheltenham in order to run in this Grade 1 instead, a race that looks an ideal target. A triple winner in bumpers last season, Tazbar hasn’t looked back over hurdles since being touched off over 2m in November on his debut. He’s won all three of his starts since and was particularly impressive last time out when beating Cheltenham eighth Sound Accord (giving him 3lb) by a very easy 12 lengths. He looks the natural successor to Inglis Drever in the staying hurdle division and it will take a good one to beat him here.
Albertas Run buried a hoodoo last month when becoming the first Reynoldstown winner since 1973 to follow up in the SunAlliance Chase, so we shouldn’t be too concerned that the winner of that latter race has gone on to win the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase (2.00pm) just once in the last 13 years. Of more concern is his 7lb penalty, which gives Roll Along and BATTLECRY, second and third respectively at Cheltenham, the chance to reverse the form. Roll Along ran on late after being scrubbed along to go the pace and may struggle to keep tabs on this sharper course, but the front-running Battlecry is going to be suited by the track and can turn the tables on the winner.
Captain Cee Bee has been touted as a possible Champion Hurdle contender after his win in the Supreme Novices’, so he’ll be a warm order for the 2m Novices’ Hurdle (4.20pm). However, he had a hard race at Cheltenham and should be opposed under a penalty here. Take him on with PIERROT LUNAIRE, whose length-and-a quarter second to Binocular at Kempton reads very well indeed in the light of that one’s subsequent efforts.
Mister Top Notch will be a tough to beat in the Handicap Chase (4.55pm), but RAYSHAN has been targeted at this race since his game defeat of Silver Sedge at Newcastle in February, his second handicap win in three outings. The runner-up has since franked the form with two subsequent chase wins. The Mares’ Bumper makes no appeal as a betting proposition, but twist my arm and I’d nominate Alan King’s CALL ME A LEGEND as the most likely winner.
Ross has previewed the Topham Chase (3.45pm) elsewhere on this website.
Recommended Bets:*
Tazbar 5pt win
Battlecry 1pt win
Pierrot Lunaire 2pt win
Rayshan 1pt win
*All at best morning-line prices - bet365 and Stan James offer a best odds guarantee.