Mal all Gold for Williams
Nick Williams set his sights on the Connaught Gold Cup Handicap Chase some time ago for Maljimar and his plan can come to fruition at Newbury tomorrow.
The Devon handler identified this two-and-a-half-mile heat following a deserved victory in a similar contest at Cheltenham last month.
The eight-year-old had long been threatening to land a decent prize and finally enjoyed his moment in the spotlight when seeing off Burntoakboy by an impressive 11 lengths.
Maljimar had to survive a dreadful blunder at the top of the hill but still won with a little something up his sleeve – a fact not lost on the handicapper who has raised him 14lb.
However, he remains on the upward curve and that win will have given him a welcome confidence booster.
Joes Edge is an interesting contender in the National Britannia Veterans’ Handicap Chase.
The 11-year-old demonstrated real guts when landing the 2005 Scottish National as a novice but has failed to hit the anticipated heights since.
He looked to have lost the plot when failing to figure at all in 2005 or 2006 but bounced back to his best when getting the better of a thrilling three-way finish in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at the Festival.
That performance inspired punters to send off Ferdy Murphy’s charge as one of three co-favourites in the Grand National at Aintree.
Despite having finished seventh the previous year, Joes Edge was just never travelling when pulled up and has been off the track since that day.
It is obviously a worry that he might not maintain the shine he once had, but against similarly ageing opponents here, Joes Edge can return with a bang.
Cloudy Lane can complete his Grand National build-up with victory in Doncaster’s Coolfun Ltd Grimthorpe Chase.
Donald McCain has selectively campaigned the eight-year-old this term, winning the Tommy Whittle at Haydock in December before giving the gelding a nice break until earlier this month.
Although he did not have much to beat at Ayr, he could do no more than see off Another Rum by a comfortable eight lengths in what will have been a nice pipe-opener.
McCain looks to have proved pretty shrewd in getting Cloudy Lane into the National on a nice mark, and victory here will see his Aintree odds tumble further.
Henry De Bromhead’s Irish raider Mister Watzisname should take all the beating in the totepool Premier Kelso Hurdle at the Borders venue.
The six-year-old progressed from winning an ordinary Tramore maiden to scoring in Grade Two company and can follow up at the same level.
William Bonney has been the subject of some promising gallops reports and he is expected to sparkle in Kempton’s Betfred Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Wolverhampton flies the all-weather flag with a typically competitive yet low-grade card, and Ninth House rates a likely winner.
The six-year-old is on quite a roll at present, having won at both Lingfield and Wolverhampton on his last two starts, with that latter victory coming over tomorrow’s nine furlongs.
Ninth House beat rival One Night In Paris that day and although the latter is 3lb better off this time, it is hard to see the form being reversed in the Pontin’s – The Mother of All Holidays Claiming Stakes.
Terminate can make the most of a step back up in trip in the Mum’s Gone To Pontin’s Handicap.
The six-year-old did not really take to hurdles earlier in the winter and seemed to relish the return to the level when third over an inadequate 10 furlongs at Dunstall Park on Valentine’s Day.
Ian Williams switches his charge back to a mile and a half and Terminate has every chance of regaining the winning thread.
