Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 30 January 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Timeform look forward to the 2.35 toteswinger Challengers Novices' Chase (Scilly Isles) Grade 1 in which six go to the post...

Paul Nicholls fields seven-year-old Herecomesthetruth. He is unbeaten in three completed starts over fences, winning novices at Chepstow in October and Taunton in December and a twelve-runner handicap at the first-named course, also in December. He easily beat Presenting Copper by eight lengths for the last-named success, and made light of a BHA mark of 133 on the switch to handicap company. Herecomesthetruth made all, jumping exceptionally for one of such limited experience and wasn't extended to record a facile victory. He is open to further improvement and his jumping should stand him in good stead over Sandown's stiff fences.

Massini's Maguire made a successful chasing debut when beating Slash And Burn in a maiden at Ascot. He then chased home Breedsbreeze in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day on his latest start, showing near-smart form and jumping better as the race wore on. He looked to have more to offer when finishing five lengths behind Paul Nicholls' charge, is equally effective over two and a half miles and should give a good account.

Donald McCain's Will Be Done arrives at the track seeking a fifth successive victory. He again jumped and travelled with plenty of enthusiasm at Haydock for his latest success, beating Tom George's Tartak by four lengths. Although the runner-up's proximity gives the form a solid look of greater concern is that just two weeks have passed since that race, and the forceful ride in gruelling conditions may have taken something out of him. His bold jumping should prove an asset and his tendency to jump to the right should be offset by this course, but whether he is capable of being competitive in this company is open to question.

Araldur heads the Timeform ratings. He has won his last three starts in novice chases for his new connections, including when beating Free World over two miles in the Grade 2 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at this course in December. He showed a useful level of form that day and a good attitude to lead close home having looked second best for most of the straight. The way he stayed on strongly suggests he will improve for this step up in trip.

Pressgang has taken well to fences and broke his maiden over the bigger obstacles when winning a handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day. He had plenty more in hand than the result suggested when beating Rodrigo Gonzales by a length, moving clear in the straight and looking set for an emphatic victory before jumping left at the final three fences. He had enough in hand to re-assert on the run to the line but Sandown's right-handed configuration could provide problems should he choose to repeat the trick here.

Buck The Legend is already a better chaser than he was a hurdler, having shown near-smart form in four outings over fences, winning twice. For his latest success Buck The Legend impressed with his bold and accurate jumping at Newbury when beating Kilcrea Asla in a novices' handicap chase but couldn't have been more disappointing at Ascot twelve days ago when finishing well held, making several serious errors. His stable hasn't been in much form of late, and Nigel Twiston-Davies will be hoping his charge reverts to jumping with the fluency he showed at Newbury.