CHAMP should be backed to make a winning return to the fray in the Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle (3.05) at Newbury today.
Nicky Henderson’s son of King’s Theatre has an excellent record fresh – he has yet to finish out of the first two on his opening start of the campaign – and marked his reappearance last winter with a score in the top-level Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December.
Paul Nicholls has strong claims of an ITV3 double, set up by STAGE STAR, a fluent scorer on his fencing bow at Warwick at the beginning of the month, in the Grade 2 Coral Racing Club Novices’ Chase (1.55).
The champion trainer’s SHEARER unseated jockey Adrian Heskin four flights from home at Cheltenham 13 days ago but is fancied to make amends by defying top weight in the Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle (3.40).
Nicholls’s former assistant Dan Skelton can capture the Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Hurdle (1.20) with HEEZER GEEZER, a promising second to Mahons Glory at Aintree last month on his obstacles debut.
He has had excuses for defeats on his first two attempts this season, so PAINT THE DREAM is worth persevering with in the Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Chase (2.30).
FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS
DONCASTER
12.00 CAIUS MARCIUS
12.35 OSCARS LEADER
1.10 HURRICANE BAY
1.45 BARTON KNOLL
2.20 THE LIKELY LAD
2.55 EVERYDAY CHAMPAGNE
3.30 CORNICELLO
NEWBURY
12.10 ITTACK BLUE
12.45 STRAW FAN JACK
1.20 HEEZER GEEZER
1.55 STAGE STAR
2.30 PAINT THE DREAM
3.05 CHAMP (NAP)
3.40 SHEARER
FFOS LAS
12.20 L’ASTROBOY
12.55 DUNBAR
1.30 INFLEXIBLE
2.05 FILE ILLICO (NB)
2.40 TRELAWNE
3.15 STORM FORCE BEN
3.50 OTTOLINE
DOUBLE: CHAMP and FILE ILLICO
