Fine Form
The Scorpion King CP – 3.17
can make it a hat-trick in Wales by winning the Congratulations 2024 WGN Winner Val Dancer Handicap Chase at Chepstow.
Oliver Signy’s seven-year-old appears to be improving with racing and his last two victories at Ffos Las suggest he is still a good bit ahead of the handicapper.
There was plenty of encouragement from his first run of the season, when second to Aworkinprogress at Stratford.
The winner that day was scoring off 96 and he has subsequently won off marks of 101 and 109, so it was a pretty hot little race.
The Scorpion King is clearly at home when the mud is flying. On his first Ffos Las win, he beat the very heavily backed Montys Soldier, who was clearly expected to go very close.
Next time out, up 5lb, he took on a Venetia Williams favourite and the pair pulled over 20 lengths clear of the third, but The Scorpion King was a ready winner, earning another 9lb rise.
He is on a roll, though, and is taken to win again.
Dan Skelton’s
Queens Wish CP – 3.52
looks up to defying a penalty in the 5th April Chepstow Grand National Raceday Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
She was an Irish point winner, after which former footballer Alan Rogers paid €140,000 for her and she went a small way to repaying that when running out a very easy winner at Newcastle on her hurdling debut.
The form has yet to be tested, but she could hardly have done any more on her first run and could be pretty smart.
Below The Radar CP – 2.15
is given another chance to confirm the impression he made last year in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Handicap Hurdle.
The lightly-raced Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old won a bumper and two novice hurdles last term but this season has not started so well.
A beaten odds-on favourite at Uttoxeter, he was then expected to strip fitter at Hereford but did too much too soon and faded to finish last of four behind Nemean Lion.
This stiffer stamina test is what he wants, if he settles.
Jacks Parrot NC – 3.30
looked sure to win the valuable Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock just before Christmas when he cruised into the lead.
Unfortunately for connections, a combination of the almost three-and-a-quarter-mile trip and the heavy ground caught him out and Alan King’s Egbert stayed on strongly to win.
On better ground and over a trip short of three miles, he will surely take all the beating off just 1lb higher in the Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Handicap Chase at Newcastle.
Treasure Fleet WL – 5.00
should remain unbeaten in the Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.
He did not run as a juvenile and when he made his debut three weeks ago, the 800,000 guineas purchase was already gelded.
Charlie Appleby’s runner was a comfortable winner at this track, appearing good value for the three-quarter-length distance – and he looked sure to improve for the experience.
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