Former jockey Carl Llewellyn has seen his training career stall but can enjoy a welcome fillip by saddling Hennessy to success in the bet365 Gold Cup Chase (3.10) at Sandown Park today.
The lightly raced eight-year-old developed into a useful staying hurdler last season and already looks just as good over fences. He jumped like an old hand when making a winning reappearance at Folkestone and, after flopping on heavy ground on his next start, returned to form with a good fifth to Tricky Trickster in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He faded in the closing stages there after making a rare mistake two out when in second.
Still unexposed given a test of stamina, at the right end of the handicap and with Tony McCoy taking over from an amateur in the saddle, Hennessy has plenty in his favour and looks a fair bet at the 11-1 offered by Ladbrokes.
Kalahari King has 8lb to find with Twist Magic on official ratings, but is progressing well over fences and should come out on top in the bet365.com Celebration Chase (2.35).
Beaten a short-head by Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, Kalahari King went one better in tidy fashion when easily seeing off Tatenen at Aintree and, provided those efforts have not taken too much out of him, he will be tough to beat.
The best bet of the day is Tasheba in the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed on Every Race Handicap Hurdle (2.05). He improved as his stamina was tested on the Flat last year and has taken really well to hurdles since joining Nicky Henderson, winning his past two starts in good style. He was particularly impressive when powering away for a five-length defeat of Mountaineer at Cheltenham last time and, with this return to farther much in his favour, Tasheba can make the most of a decent mark on his handicap debut.
On a cracking mixed card, Lovelace can land the featured Flat race, the bet365 Mile (3.45). He has been campaigned abroad since an unlucky head second to Little White Lie under top weight in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last July, winning in this grade at Baden Baden before losing his way a little at the end of the year. He shaped well on his reappearance when fourth on unsuitably soft ground at the Curragh and, with conditions back in his favour, looks a fair bet at the 11-1 offered by Ladbrokes.
Pipedreamer and Tartan Bearer will dominate the betting for the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (4.15), but with most of the field preferring to be held up, this could turn into a tactical affair and that could see Charlie Farnsbarns come out on top.
He signed off last season with a good defeat of Bankable in group three company at Newmarket and faced an impossible task from a poor draw when well beaten in the group one Dubai Duty Free on his reappearance at Nad Al Sheba. That should have put him spot-on for this test and he can make his fitness advantage tell.
Source:The times
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