Howard’s to have his way
Venetia Williams’ inmate was a fair hurdler, winning once from five starts, but always had the look of an embryonic chaser.
That certainly looked the case when he was victorious on his fencing bow at Ffos Las in November, after which he was unable to consolidate upon that with two inauspicious efforts at Newbury and Ludlow.
It was a different story at Wincanton last month, however, as he jumped fluently in a two-mile-five-furlong handicap chase to get within a length and a half of Opening Batsman.
The form needs little advertising as the winner that day landed the Grade Three Racing Plus Chase at the weekend.
Howard’s Legacy is almost certainly not of that stamp of animal, but he must be reasonably well thought of by Williams, who has him well entered at the Cheltenham Festival. A return to novice company, allied to a slightly longer trip, should do it for him here.
Sawpit Supreme can make short shrift of a 7lb penalty by winning the Captain Machell Handicap Chase.
David Bridgwater’s 11-year-old mare is riding high in the autumn of her career, and was an especially pleasing winner of a tight handicap chase at Market Rasen last weekend.
She has already shown up well at Leicester this winter, when second behind the well-regarded Arthur’s Pass in December.
