Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action with two running at Sandown and one at Navan.
13:50 Sandown
The Paul Nicholls trained KNAPPERS HILL (best priced at 4/1) has a very similar profile to stablemate McFabulous who won this race a couple of years and I expect him to prove hard to beat. The six-year-old won three bumpers last season including the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree before winning his first two starts over hurdles at Chepstow and Wincanton.
Knappers Hill lost his unbeaten record in the Grade 2 Kennel Gate at Ascot when he finished behind both Jonbon and Colonel Mustard but they both hold good chances at the Cheltenham festival next week. He was markedly weak in the market in the Betfair Hurdle last time but he still managed to finish 6th shaping like this step up in trip to just shy of 2m4f should suit. That experience of a big field handicap will help him for this race and I expect him to run well off top weight.
15:35 Sandown
DANNY KIRWAN (best priced at 3/1) has never fulfilled the potential shown early on in his career but he finally put it all together last time in first-time cheekpieces and I think he has a good chance of following up in this race. The nine-year-old ran well to finish 2nd on his chasing debut on his reappearance following a wind operation before slightly disappointing at Kempton on Boxing Day when only 4th behind recent winner Jacamar.
Danny Kirwan’s jumping improved throughout the race at Wincanton last time and he put it to bed impressively winning by 10 lengths at the finish. He still looks well handicapped off a mark of 132 and I expect him to prove hard to beat if the cheekpieces work for a second time.
16:00 Navan
Master McShee comes here in the best form but he has 9lbs to find with NOTEBOOK (best priced at 7/2) on weight-adjusted ratings and I feel the Henry De Bromhead trained gelding can make it 2/2 at the track. The nine-year-old won the Grade 2 Fortria Chase over this course and distance on his reappearance when he beat Samcro by 10 lengths before paying the price of trying to go with Energumene at Cork in the Hilly Way Chase on his next start.
Notebook finished well beaten behind Allaho in a Grade 2 at Thurles last time but this is a much easier contest than his previous two races and he should enjoy conditions. Cilaos Emery has question marks to answer back down in trip and I think Notebook should prove hard to beat.
