12 January 2024 , 19:32
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MALINA GIRL can atone for her last-time-out Cheltenham mishap by carrying top weight to victory in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (3.00) at Warwick today.
Gavin Cromwell’s mare landed one big prize in Britain when galloping to a 10-length supremacy at Cheltenham in November.
And she would have gone very close to lifting another but for coming to grief at the home of jump racing nine days before Christmas.
Having put in a tidy round of fencing, the seven-year-old was stalking the leaders when she suffered a crash landing at the third-last obstacle behind Cheltenham Festival hope Broadway Boy.
Malina Girl was breezing along at the time, but the scene of her departure – three out – prevents the British Horseracing Authority handicapper from raising her rating of 146.
My selection proved on her penultimate outing that a searching test of stamina shows Malina Girl in her best light, and Conor Stone-Walsh’s 5lb claim is another plus as she seeks to give her opponents weight and a beating.
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SONIGINO is fancied to give Paul Nicholls a fourth victory in the Coral Lanzarote Hurdle (2.42) at Kempton Park this afternoon.
The seven-year-old, part-owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, has followed a steady upward curve over timber, having won four of his last eight starts.
After making the frame at Chepstow and Cheltenham on his first two outings of the campaign, the son of It’s Gino made it third time lucky at Aintree 16 days before Christmas.
Sent off the 100-30 favourite in a field of 10, Harry Cobden’s mount didn’t let his backers down, coming home six lengths to the good of Prince Zaltar.
The handicapper has reacted with a 6lb rise in the weights to a new rating of 143, but Sonigino still has more to give and gets a confident vote to go in again.
Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy mounts a title defence in the Grade 2 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.07), but preference is for BANBRIDGE .
Winner of Cheltenham’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle during his days over the smaller obstacles, Joseph O’Brien’s son of Doyen enjoyed a fine start to his chasing career last term.
On the back of scores at Gowran Park and Cheltenham, Banbridge was a podium finisher at the highest level at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse before landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree last April.
The fact that success came against neophytes means that J J Slevin’s partner gets half of the 6lb penalty he would shoulder had it been in open company,, and Banbridge is a long way from the bottom of the barrel.
Mel Rowley has her team in good order and the Bridgnorth trainer is taken to enjoy an ITV4 double, set up by LATITUDE in the Bet-In-Race With Coral Handicap Chase (1.30).
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Rowley’s KYNTARA travels to Warwick for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (1.49) on a hat-trick after Lingfield Park and Aintree this winter.
A personal best is required from a rating of 124, but Kayf Tara’s son is progressing and is expected to prove up to the job.
Lucinda Russell’s APPLE AWAY makes plenty of appeal in the Grade 2 Trustatrader Hampton Novices’ Chase (2.24).
Although third behind Grey Dawning at Haydock Park on her fencing debut, the seven-year-old took a big step forward for a 31-length romp at Leicester last time out and revenge is on the cards.
The Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3.35) is salvaged from Sandown Park last Saturday and THOMAS DARBY is the selection after lifting a similar event over course and distance in November.
The Grade 2 William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (1.10) at Wetherby is a good opportunity for COLONEL HARRY to get back in business after a fine second to Le Patron in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown five weeks ago.
Newsboy fancies the Joseph O'Brien-trained Banbridge (right) to win the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (2.07) at Kempton Park (PA)