Act Of Innocence an Ace for Huntingdon

Act Of Innocence can cement his Cheltenham Festival credentials by providing Nicky Henderson with another victory in the Don Lockwood Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon on Thursday.

The Seven Barrows handler has saddled three previous winners of this Listed contest, with the brilliant Shishkin most notably striking gold six years ago en route to landing the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park the following month.

Act Of Innocence looks a legitimate contender for the Supreme himself, but with Henderson and his owners Gordon and Su Hall also responsible for the ante-post favourite for the traditional Festival curtain-raiser in Old Park Star, this six-year-old is stepping up in distance to give connections the opportunity to split their aces come Cheltenham in March.

A bumper winner for Paul Nicholls, Act Of Innocence made an impressive stable debut for Henderson at Newbury, comfortably accounting for the reopposing Sinnatra, who has since won by 55 lengths at Sandown.

Odds-on backers had their fingers burnt by Act Of Innocence back at Newbury post Christmas, but in truth he did not do much wrong in being beaten 0.75-lengths by Minella Yoga, to whom he was conceding around 9kg and that one subsequently ran respectably in Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle Trial.

With Henderson electing to sidestep a slog in the mud on Cheltenham Trials day, this race looks an ideal opportunity to test his powers over a longer trip before a likely tilt at the Turners' Novices' Hurdle in five weeks' time.

Faye Bramley's Paggane is impossible to oppose in the other Listed event on the card, the Gin and Dubonnet Lady Protectress Mares' Chase.

The seven-year-old, formerly trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, registered two impressive victories at this level in November, winning without being fully extended at both Carlisle and Market Rasen.

She came up a little short against the Mullins-trained Spindleberry in her hat-trick bid at Doncaster recently, but a return to a right-handed track should see her in a better light and she is miles clear of these rivals on official ratings.

I'm A Lumberjack can open his account for the season in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster.

Alan King's charge won twice in novice company last term, impressing at Warwick and Bangor, and looked in need of the run when fifth on his return to action in a competitive handicap at Newbury in November.

He returned to the Berkshire track over the festive period and produced what was arguably a career-best performance in a first time hood to finish second to the progressive Andashan, who had previously filled the runner-up spot behind Stayers' Hurdle contender Kabral Du Mathan at Haydock.

I'm A Lumberjack is up 3lb to a revised mark of 123, but there is every chance he has not reached his ceiling just yet.

Conditions will be testing for Lingfield's National Hunt meeting, which should play to the strengths of the lightly-raced Big City Roller in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained eight-year-old has run just four times under rules, but has no little ability judged on wins at Carlisle and Bangor.

He bolted up on his return from well over a year off the track and chasing debut at Bangor last February, but did not run again until four weeks ago, when he looked set for a podium finish before a tired leap at the final fence.

Big City Roller should sharpen up for that run and the prospect of heavy ground will hold no fears for him.

The best bet on a low-key all-weather card at Southwell is Asia Force, who shaped with plenty of promise despite being beaten at odds-on on his Newcastle debut early in the new year and can reward those who stick with him in the BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Novice Stakes. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

DONCASTER: Race 1: 14.40 You Did, Race 2: 15.15 Mustang Du Breuil, Race 3: 15.50 King Esoteric, Race 4: 16.25 I'm A Lumberjack, Race 5: 17.00 Mumford's Magic, Race 6: 17.35 Gentleman Bill, Race 7: 18.10 Pure Seduction.

HUNTINGDON: Race 1: 14.50 Katira Du Mestivel, Race 2: 15.25 Zoeman, Race 3: 16.00 Paggane, Race 4: 16.35 Lunar Orbit, Race 5: 17.10 ACT OF INNOCENCE (NAP), Race 6: 17.43 Briery Butterfly, Race 7: 18.18 Power Of Silence.

LINGFIELD: Race 1: 15.35 Tommy Dillion, Race 2: 16.10 Matthias, Race 3: 16.45 Largy Go, Race 4: 17.20 Big City Roller, Race 5: 17.55 Atlantic Power, Race 6: 18.30 Bobbi's Beauty.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 17.50 Roaring Ralph, Race 2: 18.25 Autumn Angel, Race 3: 19.00 Mr Juggles, Race 4: 19.30 Asia Force, Race 5: 20.00 Night Bear, Race 6: 20.30 Smokey Malone, Race 7: 21.00 Aisling Oscar, Race 8: 21.30 Fools Rush In, Race 9: 22.00 Landlordtothestars.

ALL TO COME: Paggane and Act Of Innocence (Huntingdon, Races 3 and 5).