Keighley holds Court in Dipper
The six-year-old has been placed in two starts at Prestbury Park this term, chasing home impressive Feltham winner Grands Crus on the first occasion before finishing third to Join Together last time.
Champion Court was a winner at Aintree in October and trainer Martin Keighley is seeking another strong showing from his stable star in the event better known as the Dipper Novices’ Chase.
“He’s been running really well,” said the Gloucestershire handler.
“He faced an impossible task giving weight to Grands Crus at Cheltenham, but he still ran a really good race to finish second.
“He then ran well in another good race there last time to finish third. I think if he hadn’t made a bad mistake at the third-last, he could well have been second that day.
“It’s only a small field on Sunday, but it looks another really hot race.”
Saint Are finished second to Champion Court at Aintree and trainer Tim Vaughan is hoping the ground and distance will bring out the best in his contender.
A Grade One winner over hurdles last term, the six-year-old has yet in win in three races over fences, although he has turned in some fine efforts in defeat.
“He’s a lovely horse and is obviously a Grade One winner over hurdles. We thought we’d try him over a shorter trip round Cheltenham to see if that works for him,” said Vaughan.
“In fairness, he’s been unlucky not to win but his form has been very solid.
“The last twice the ground has been a bit too soft for him.
“Both Richard Johnson and Richard Killoran who’ve ridden him said he doesn’t like that tacky, holding ground.
“He’s fine on good ground and on sloppy wet ground, but that sticky ground doesn’t seem to suit him.
“We’ll see that the weather does. At the moment the ground is good, good to soft in places and that would be perfect for him.”
Alan King’s Invictus and the Nicky Henderson-trained Solix have both scored twice already this term and the latter faces an old rival in Sybarite here.
Sybarite has 12 lengths to find on Solix on their run at Cheltenham three weeks ago, but his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies expects another sound performance.
“It’s a very tough race but he jumps well and has run good races round Cheltenham the last twice,” said the Naunton handler.
“I’m not going there with any pretensions of winning, but if he can pick up some prize-money, that would be great.”
Paul Nicholls’ Sonofvic completes the line-up after claiming second behind Grands Crus at Newbury on his first start over fences.
Jockey Barry Geraghty is hoping his mount Solix can rise to the challenge and take his unbeaten record over fences to three.
“Solix is on a hat-trick and because of that he’s got to concede upwards of 3lb and 7lb to some smart opposition,” the Irish jockey said in his blog on www.attheraces.com.
“He’s won both his novice chases by 12 lengths and hasn’t been tested yet and proved himself over the track and distance last time when he beat Sybarite in early December.
“But this is a very competitive race and I was particularly impressed by Invictus when he won his last start at Plumpton earlier this month.
“He’s rated 150 along with Solix but gets 3lb and there’s also Sonofvic who was unbeaten in his two hurdle runs and was only two lengths behind Grands Crus on his chase debut at Newbury in November.
“Regardless of how easy Grands Crus won it still won’t beat easy to give him 7lb but Solix is on the up and does have plenty of class.”
Invictus has also won both his races over fences, though his trainer Alan King was surprised at the handicapper’s assessment of his latest success.
“He won at Plumpton and went up 20lb for that,” said the Barbury Castle handler
“I hope the handicapper’s right and he’s as good as he thinks he is.”
Paul Nicholls is looking forward to saddling Sonofvic, who ran a promising race when runner-up to Grands Crus on his chasing debut at Newbury in November.
“I really like Sonofvic. He was second to Grands Crus. He’s in the Dipper, but that’s one of the races over the weekend that looks competitive,” said the Ditcheat trainer.
