15:00 Saturday

An open looking race, as so many renewals of the Dovecote have been in recent seasons. Lump Sum currently heads the market but I feel the difference in price between him and FIERCELY PROUD (10/3 on BetMGM) is too big. 

Just three-quarters of a length separated them in the Rossington Main, with Lump Sum staying on strongly, but a return to a sharper track looks more likely to Fiercely Proud given his strong travelling nature, while his three visits to sharp, right-handed tracks have resulted in three wins.

This is often won by a prominent race with plenty of speed. Fiercely Proud ticks both those boxes, while the Ben Pauling yard are currently in flying form which only adds to his appeal.

15:37 Saturday

Anthony Honeyball has a quarter of the field in this valuable handicap (see Architect's race preview here), with Forward Plan seemingly the most fancied of his trio.

But at a bigger price, I like the chances of BLACKJACK MAGIC (13/2 on Coral). He was well backed when winning the Badger Beers earlier in the season, beating recent winner Threeunderthrufive, and he’s had excuses in two runs since. 

 

He would’ve finished second at Ascot if not for a terrible blunder at the final fence; that race has worked out well, and the reopposing (and market leader for this race) Flegmatik only narrowly finished narrowly ahead of Blackjack Magic, with the selection now three-pounds better off at the weights. He also fared best of those ridden up with the pace.

Another late error cost him at Sandown and a return to softer ground looks sure to suit. His prominent run style will suit Kempton, and Sam Twiston-Davies excels in staying chasers that like to be ridden aggressively. 

16:10 Saturday

HELTENHAM (NAP 9/2) was a rapidly progressive chaser last season, racking up a trio of wins and leading connections to consider him as a potential Coral Gold Cup contender.

And yet, he’s been campaigned rather strangely this season, winning a novice hurdle on reappearance before running in desperate conditions at Aintree back over fences. 

Switched back to hurdling on his last run at the Lingfield Winter Millions meeting, he shaped better than the bare result but he is crying out for a return to fences and a flatter track, which he gets here.

The handicapper generously dropped his chase mark by four-pounds for one very excusable run, and given his earlier progression and the lofty targets that were discussed, it would be disappointing if he cannot resume his progression here with conditions in his favour.