Kempton 3.35 A bad mistake three out put paid to the winning chance of Lowry’s Bar in a Grade Two novice chase at Windsor in January but he still kept on well to get within three lengths of a useful winner in Jingko Blue, has progressed smoothly in four starts over fences and remains unexposed at this three-mile trip.
Southwell 2.40 Last year’s winner, Diligent Harry, looked like he needed the run on his return from nearly 200 days off at Lingfield last time and he could well find the improvement required to turn the tables on Marshman, who was four lengths in front of him there.
At four miles, one furlong and 55 yards, the Eider Chase at Newcastle is barely a furlong shorter than the Grand National and with the ground soft in places and some rain in the forecast, it may well demand as much staying power from its winner as the Aintree showpiece in April.
Kempton 2.25 Having entered both Lulamba and Palladium for the last major trial for the Triumph Hurdle, Nicky Henderson decided to keep both of his leading four-year-olds at home but the form of Lulamba’s British debut at Ascot in January should still get a boost via Mondo Man.
Gary and Josh Moore’s gelding was classy on the Flat, with a fifth place in the French Derby on his cv, and was within four lengths of Lulamba last time despite racing freely for much of the way.
