NEWBURY – SATURDAY
1.50pm
Versatility
This race has cut up a bit and Versatility has run two solid races this season, dropping 1lb for his fourth in heavy ground over an extended 2m5f at Ascot last time. He has winning form on good ground and the way he has been finishing off his races suggests the step up to 3m is well worth trying.
2.25pm
Altior
Things clearly haven’t gone to plan this season, and he has not had a smooth run at things since his second to Cyrname over 2m5f at Ascot in November. But everyone on social media saw how well he schooled last week, and his work has been good too, so fingers crossed he can get back on the winning trail, back in trip and in a race which he scored in 2017 and 2018.
All systems go at Seven Barrows this morning. The highlight was watching Altior and @NdeBoinville back in full swing. pic.twitter.com/Jqf9TLG31h
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) January 30, 2020
3.00pm
Might Bite
The main thing with him is getting him to enjoy life and his racing once again, and that has been our focus with him at home, freshening him up. It was obviously disappointing to see him drop away so quickly over hurdles at Cheltenham last time and we need to get him finishing off his races once again. Hopefully, his old ability is still in there somewhere and he can step up here and give us something to build on for Cheltenham.
3.35pm
Mill Green
I have won on him a couple of times, so he is obviously a horse I know well, but Jerry was on board when he won on his reappearance in testing ground at Sandown. That was obviously a very pleasing return but the obvious downside is that he comes into this hugely competitive race off an 8lb higher mark. So he may have already shown his hand a bit too much. But he will like this better ground and he looks a good fit for this race, so hopefully he has an each-way chance if winning is beyond him.
4.10pm
Post War
He was obviously coming back from a very long absence here last time, and he looks to have shaped okay before getting tired in the soft ground. His form of a few years ago shows he likes decent ground, and hopefully he will come on for that reappearance run and be competitive here off a mark of 123.
4.45pm
Adrimel
I haven’t ridden him but it looks like the form he has shown in winning his bumper by a wide margin at Uttoxeter in December puts him right among the form horses in here.
EXETER – SUNDAY
1.55pm
Champagne Mystery
He was very impressive for me when winning an Aintree handicap off a mark of 129 in November and he probably ran to a similar level of form when trying to give 5lb to a good horse at Haydock next time. He carries a 5lb penalty again here and this looks a decent race, but he has conditions in his favour and you have to expect a bold showing.
3.00pm
Welsh Saint
A bumper winner, he got off the mark over hurdles when beating a fair sort very easily at Warwick, and there was no disgrace in his third in Listed company at Cheltenham last time. I think he is on a decent enough mark and I can see the step up in trip suiting him. The ground is no problem at all, as well.
