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London – Aigle De La See merits support as he steps up to 4800m for the first time in the Wendling Handicap Chase at Fakenham on Thursday.
The six-year-old proved decent over hurdles but he looked badly in need of the run on his chasing bow at Aintree in December.
He plugged on for fourth that day and looked as though he may step up on that at Newbury next time, only to be brought down before the race really began in earnest.
As long as that tumble has not left a mark on him, Aigle De La See should be up to the task for Nicky Henderson.
The Seven Barrows team can also strike gold with Fixe Le Kap in the racinguk.com Juvenile Hurdle at Warwick.
This French recruit impressed when winning at Newbury, triumphing despite racing a bit lazily, and given he features on the ante-post lists for the Triumph Hurdle, connections will surely be disappointed if he cannot take this event.
Mia’s Storm could stake her claim as a lively outsider for the Cheltenham Festival with victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
Alan King’s charge was a point-to-point winner last April before subsequently changing hands for £40,000 to join the Barbury Castle team.
The six-year-old was tried in bumper company on her British bow at Huntingdon in December and she lost little in defeat as she came home five lengths adrift of favourite La Bague Au Roi.
Given the winner had triumphed on her two previous starts, Mia’s Storm deserved plenty of credit and having negotiated fences before, hurdles should provide few issues.
On the all-weather, Pearl Acclaim let down favourite-backers at Chelmsford at the weekend but it should pay to keep the faith in the Betfred Home Of Goals Galore Handicap back at the Essex track.
Confidence was high for a good run on Sunday following a seeming recent return to form, but the race just did not pan out in his favour.
Having just his fourth all-weather outing, Pearl Acclaim sat in behind in the early stages before coming widest of all into the straight.
While he stayed on admirably up the middle of the track, the winner Jebediah Shine had stolen an advantage and Pearl Acclaim was unable to recover lost ground, eventually being beaten 1.25 lengths.
Pearl Acclaim remains on a decent mark of 82 and it really should not be too long before he notches a second win for David Nicholls.
San Quentin has been in excellent heart for Dean Ivory and he can make it three on the bounce in the Betfred Racing Follow Us On Twitter Handicap.
The five-year-old may only have been winning at a modest level but a cosy success at Kempton at the beginning of the month was supplemented by an equally comfortable victory at Chelmsford just over a week later.
He has gone up nearly 5.5kg for those two wins but he did not look troubled by extra weight last time and could still have a little left in the locker.
Ice Royal did not enjoy the clearest of passages at Chelmsford earlier in the month but can make amends at Southwell in the 32Red Handicap.
Jamie Osborne’s charge will be having a first try on Fibresand here but given he has shown ability on both Polytrack and Tapeta, the surface may not be too much of a worry.
Winner of a Wolverhampton maiden last October, Ice Royal has since shown up well in two handicaps off marks of 73 and 74, but must now defy an augmented mark of 76.
He looks well capable though as he only lost out by just over a length last time after seeing interference 800m out, so it would be no surprise if he were on the premises again.
Final put in a decent effort on his return from a long lay-off when second at Southwell last week and can make a swift return pay in the Ladbrokes Handicap.
He was trying Fibresand for the first time that day and the experience should certainly aid his cause here. – Press Association
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