It's a novices' handicap chase under consideration first (14:10) where Alan King's Midnight Prayer, who looks every inch a chaser, is taken to make a winning debut over fences. He wasn't seen to best effect on his final start over hurdles at Aintree last season, where he lacked a little fluency at his obstacles and was left with too much to do rounding the home bend. He still ran creditably, though, and the winner of that race bolted up in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham's first meeting two weeks ago. If able to replicate some of his earlier hurdle and bumper form he will be a big player here and he evidently has ability. His brother Itsa Legend won over fences so it is likely the larger obstacles will bring about some improvement from him.
We switch back to the smaller obstacles next, where the all-conquering triumvirate of JP McManus, Nicky Henderson and AP McCoy (he's almost at 4000 winners, you know) team up with the talented Snake Eyes in the novices' hurdle (14:40). He was third to the useful Clondaw Kaempfer in the valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse, but his inexperience counted against him on his first start over hurdles at Kempton where he was cantering all over the winner after he and Minella Definitely pulled well clear of the rest, but was headed close home. He shaped promisingly on his final start at Doncaster in February after three months off, and this looks a much weaker contest than he's raced in so far; JP McManus likes to have a hotpot aimed at the Betfair Hurdle, and it would be no surprise if Snake Eyes was this season's candidate. He can take this with ease on the way to bigger and better things and is a confident selection.
The two-and-a-half mile handicap chase is the final race under consideration today (15:40), where The Druids Nephew is looking to recapture the form which saw him defeat subsequent Grade 2 winner Grandioso at Wincanton at the start of the year. If back in the same form today he should take all the beating, as that performance sets a clear standard in form terms. It is best to draw a line through his last performance at Ayr, where he was evidently not right on the day, but his sixth in a listed handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, was a creditable effort, especially as he hit the front a little too soon. His current chase mark of 132 looks extremely competitive, and any soft ground he might encounter today shouldn't be a problem. Goodwood scorer Harry Hunt rates as the main danger with improvement possible now back over fences, but Andy Turnell's six year old looks to have been given a good chance by the handicapper, and can make a winning return to action.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Stratford
Back Midnight Prayer @ 4.94/1 in the 14:10
Back Snake Eyes @ 1.4840/85 in the 14:40
Back The Druids Nephew @ 3.7511/4 in the 15:40
