No stopping Express
A poor performer in three of his four outings over hurdles, Emma Lavelle's seven-year-old hinted at better to come over fences last season and so it has proved.
After almost nine months on the sidelines, he reappeared for a pipe-opener over hurdles at Fontwell in early November and nearly won, going down by the narrowest of margins, collared in the last stride.
That promise was fulfilled next time out when, switching to fences, he won over two miles and five furlongs at this venue. A comfortable success under an extra 6lb followed over the festive period at Taunton, when stepping up to just shy of three miles.
And despite a 13lb hike in the weights and the longer trip of three miles and one furlong, Presenting Express is fancied to extend his winning sequence.
Noel Chance looks capable of taking the John Dexter 40th Birthday Juvenile Maiden Hurdle with Slew Charm. Having shown nothing special on the Flat in his native France, he made his debut on these shores on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in November, but was never in the hunt, trailing home more than 30l behind the winner. Slew Charm then ran a big race on his debut over hurdles at Plumpton earlier this month, staying on in determined fashion to finish second, two lengths behind the useful winner Pace Shot. With that run under his belt, he can go one better today.
Evan Williams has provided his supporters with a magnificent £73 profit to a level £1 stake this season a figure which is likely to be enhanced by Graffiti Tongue, who reappears after a lengthy absence in the Westenhanger Selling Hurdle.Extremely consistent in handicap company during 2005, claiming three victories and an equal number of runner-up prizes, Graffiti Tongue has the credentials to begin 2006 in the right manner, despite now being in the twilight of his career.
Hi Laurie is fancied to complete a double in the Crown Racing Champion Tipster "Colin Sheppard" Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell. Successful over fences at Uttoxeter back in October, she was then on the floor in her next start and was quickly sent back over the smaller obstacles.Three solid second places followed, but she secured a second career win over hurdles at Folkestone earlier this month when making all to win in effortless style by 19 lengths.
She jumped left several times that day, so will certainly appreciate the return here to a left handed track.
