Mud-loving Secrete looks the part
North Yorkshire trainer Malcolm Jefferson thinks a great deal of this five-year-old chestnut, who looked the real deal here over Christmas when he sauntered 11 lengths clear in a reasonable novices’ hurdle.
The form looks strong, too, as the runner-up that day, Allied Answer, has since gone in. Before that, and again over course and distance, Secrete Stream gave the upwardly-mobile Diamond King a bit of a run for his money on what was his hurdling bow.
Proven when the mud is flying, it will be a shade disappointing if he cannot win a race like this, even in spite of his penalty, before stepping up in grade.
Carli King rates a solid shout back at Leicester for the SIS+ Handicap Chase.
Caroline Bailey’s eight-year-old has looked pretty impressive over fences and has plenty going for him as he takes another step up in trip and in grade.
Carli King jumped pretty fluently over an extended two and a half miles here a fortnight ago and was very good value for his 10-length call over Thedreamstillalive.
He has gone up another 7lb, but that is hardly a disaster given his aptitude for competing in testing conditions – not to mention the fact he has been crying out for this longer distance of just shy of three miles.
The sense of expectancy is heightened by the fact Bailey’s horses are in such good nick.
Keep an eye, too, on Ahyaknowyerself, who runs in the Dick Christian Novices’ Chase.
Rated as highly as 147 over hurdles, the eight-year-old’s made a promising chasing bow at Bangor when second to Open Hearted.
He then had a bit of a stinker at Haydock, beaten 20 lengths, but was clearly unhappy from the outset on Merseyside.
Trainer Dr Richard Newland still has high hopes for this one, though, and he deserves a shot at putting the record straight.
Columbian Roulette unseated jockey Martin Dwyer when victory was assured over course and distance at Southwell last time. He can gain compensation in the 32Red Handicap today.
