Mighty Strong looks sound
Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old seemed to be going great guns this season, turning in two sound performances finishing as runner-up in a moderate event at Market Rasen before winning over two miles and five furlongs at Southwell.
However, last time everything went wrong for the gelding when he fell prey to one of his occasional jumping errors and came down when tiring three from home at Stratford.
Mighty Strong’s campaign last season was a little patchy.
Bsut assuming that he has put his tumble behind him and sorted out the minor jumping errors, Henderson’s charge holds a sound chance.
Martin Pipe can unleash another top juvenile prospect in the TFM Cyntergy Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at the same track.
The ex-Andre Fabre inmate Fast Mix is an impeccably-bred individual being by Linamix out of a Danehill mare but he showed very little in moderate events on the Flat for his French trainer this year.
But Pipe can work his oracle again with the grey gelding to take this two mile event on his debut.
At Kelso, the highly-regarded Moss Harvey can make it two wins on the bounce in the Ashleybank Investments Reg Tweedie Novices’ Chase.
The Malcolm Jefferson-trained gelding scored on his debut over fences at Fakenham last month although he had to work hard to see off the challenge of Joly Bey.
Both horses look to be smart prospects though, finishing a distance in front of the other runners, and Moss Harvey is touted as a possible Cheltenham hopeful.
Jefferson steps the son of Le Moss up to three miles here but judged on his wins over hurdles he will get the trip.
Impertio made a satisfactory start to the season for trainer Peter Beaumont when fourth on soft ground at Carlisle last month and he can progress from that run to take the Ceilidh Boy Handicap Chase.
The eight-year-old ran some fair races last season but seemed to always fall just short, managing to win just one race.
There was much to like about his seasonal debut when he just got caught for toe behind Lisdante and he stayed on well to claim a place.
Impertio should strip fitter for that outing and can land this class C prize.
Meanwhile at Lingfield, Rae Guest and Darryll Holland can team up to score with Mimic in the second division of the Faucets For Grohe Median Auction Maiden Stakes. The filly finished unplaced last time in a hot event at Newmarket and this step down in class can see her open her account.
