LORD BRYAN is preferred to market rival Jony Max when the pair cross swords for the Ken Meredith Memorial Day Handicap Chase (2.55) at Ffos Las today.
Back over three miles on the back of seven defeats over shorter trips, Peter Bowen’s son of Brian Boru returned to form with a fine 25-1 second at Chepstow at the end of March.
And Lord Bryan built on that effort by going one better over this afternoon’s course and distance in the middle of last month.
Although pestered for the lead for much of the journey, my selection gave generously when asked for more by the trainer’s son Sean to beat Bobmahley by a length and a quarter and the 11-year-old can defy a 4lb rise in the weights.
At Leicester, AL AZHAR gets the vote to take his tally over a mile and a quarter to two from two by beating seven opponents for the Elmhurst Energy Handicap (6.50).
Tackling the trip for the first time at Goodwood 16 days ago, the Marcus Tregoning trainee overcame trouble in running to overcome the front-running Swilcan Bridge by a head.
That was a good effort against a rival who had the run of things in the vanguard, and Al Azhar has the untapped potential on his sixth start to overcome a 3lb rise in the handicap.
Monday's tips
FFOS LAS
1.10 WILD MAX
1.45 BECKY THE BOO
2.20 FAINT HOPE
2.55 LORD BRYAN (NAP)
3.30 ESPINATOR
4.05 HENRI LE BON
4.40 TIKK TOCK BOOM
CARLISLE
1.20 MONTE FORTE
1.55 GOOD EARTH
2.30 MACHO PRIDE
3.05 MAKEEN
3.40 TOPOMANIA
4.15 TIME TO RUMBLE
4.50 BA NA HILLS
5.25 JAMIL
REDCAR
1.35 AGUAPLANO
2.10 KEY LOOK
2.45 ELEGANT VERSE
3.20 IMENSO
3.55 SIR TITUS
4.25 MURBIH
4.55 MOSTLY CLOUDY
LEICESTER
4.45 CONFERATION
5.20 TAAQAT
5.50 NIKKI’S GIRL
6.20 MING DYNASTY
6.50 AL AZHAR (NB)
7.20 FOOTSY
7.50 COCO BEAR
8.20 RICH DREAM
WINDSOR
5.10 THE DEFIANT
5.40 PANAMA
6.10 TABDEED
6.40 SHOBIZ
7.10 LOVE DREAMS
8.40 ENSHRINE
8.10 BIG BEAR HUG
