Pic D’Orhy was perhaps not as impressive as expected on his seasonal bow at Ascot, but it is hard to argue against him in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Nicholls has won three of the last four renewals of this extended two-and-a-half-mile contest, including Pic D’Orhy’s 16-length romp last year.
He prevailed by the same distance on his return to action in the 1965 Chase at Ascot in November, when his task was eased significantly by Shishkin’s refusal to jump off.
However, Pic D’Orhy briefly threatened to make hard work of it on the turn for home before his class prevailed in the straight.
He should be sharper for the outing and while Edwardstone and Banbridge are worthy adversaries, the conditions of the race favour the Ditcheat runner.
Impose Toi can continue on his rapid upward curve in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
Winner of three of his six hurdles spins for Nicky Henderson, Impose Toi lost out by just a neck to his stablemate Luccia in a richly-endowed event at Ascot just before Christmas.
The fact he made mistakes at the last two obstacles hardly helped his chance and while a subsequent 3lb rise is not ideal, Impose Toi can defy the hike.
Another Henderson inmate, Mill Green, is the choice in the rearranged Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Warwick.
The 12-year-old posted what was arguably a career best when finishing second to the reopposing Thomas Darby here in November, with the extra 4lb he gets this time good enough to turn around a length-and-three-quarter verdict.
Malina Girl can defy top-weight in the feature Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase.
She was an impressive 10-length winner at Cheltenham in November and still appeared to be travelling very well when coming down three fences from home back at Prestbury Park last month.
Gavin Cromwell’s charge is off a career-high mark of 146 now, but Conor Stone-Walsh takes off a useful 5lb and she is one of the few proven at this marathon trip.
Grey Dawning made a telling error at Cheltenham in December but compensation could await in the Trustatrader Hampton Novices’ Chase.
He hacked up by nine lengths at Haydock on his penultimate start before a mistake at the second-last in the Cotswolds cost him plenty of ground and any real chance of victory.
Colonel Harry can continue his fine campaign in the William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby.
A decent novice hurdler for Jamie Snowden last term, Colonel Harry has hit new heights since switching to fences, winning on his debut at Chepstow in November before making a seamless leap to Grade One company at Sandown.
While he ultimately found Le Patron just over a length too good in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, it was an excellent run over a two-mile trip that is probably a touch on the short side for him.
Moved back up to just under two and a half miles in West Yorkshire, Colonel Harry can regain the winning thread with testing conditions a positive factor.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP Pic D’Orhy (2.07 Kempton)
DOUBLE Impose Toi (2.42 Kempton)
TREBLE Mill Green (3.35 Warwick)
YANKEE Malina Girl (3.00 Warwick)
