Galia Des Liteaaux can capitalise on drop in class

By Ashley Iveson

Galia Des Liteaux can make the most of having her sights lowered on her reappearance at Market Rasen.

Dan Skelton’s seven-year-old made a flying start to her career over fences in a Listed novice chase at Bangor 12 months ago, earning her a shot at Grade One honours in the Kauto Star at Kempton.

An early mistake put her on the back foot on Boxing Day and she was ultimately pulled up, but a dominant Grade Two win at Warwick early in the new year got the show back on the road.

A return to the highest level at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring saw her again come up short, but she has less on her plate going back against her own sex in the Rhino.Bet Bud Booth Mares’ Chase and will take some pegging back if she can get into a rhythm on the front end.

Olly Murphy has saddled more winners at Market Rasen than at any other track during his career so far and it will be interesting to see how his Dr Seb fares on his return from a lengthy absence in the Discover What’s Trending At Rhino.Bet Casino Maiden Hurdle.

That being said, Murphy has his string in excellent early-season form and any market support for Dr Seb could prove ominous for his rivals.

Shighness catches the eye in the Daily Charged Up Offers At Rhino.Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Micky Hammond’s mare won twice at Market Rasen over hurdles and is only 3lb higher in the weights than when scoring comfortably here in February.

She has an overall consistent profile in handicap company and a recent chasing debut at Carlisle, in a race in which she had little chance on ratings, will have blown away a few cobwebs.

That should put her spot-on for her return to Lincolnshire and the booking of Sean Quinlan suggests connections mean business.

Stiletto will not be winning out of turn if he can plunder the Jeremy Parsons 60th Birthday Celebration Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Taunton.

Zero wins from 21 career starts does not inspire much confidence on the face of it, but he has been beaten a neck and a head in his last two starts and has not done much wrong on either occasion.

Harry Kimber keeps the ride and a minor race such as this is within Stiletto’s capabilities if everything falls right.

Diesel Line looks an exciting prospect for trainer Jeremy Scott ahead of division two of the Racing To School Bridgwater College Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old looked pretty smart when winning comfortably on his introduction in a bumper at Exeter in February and, while the runner-up Banteer has not shown much in a couple of starts since, the third-placed Navajo Indy won at Newbury last week to give the form a welcome boost.

With a clear round, Diesel Line should go well on his hurdling bow.

The King Of May is dangerously well handicapped ahead of the Betting Sites Ltd At Bettingsites.Ltd.UK Handicap Chase at Sedgefield.

Brian Ellison’s charge has won twice over fences at the County Durham circuit, scoring off a mark of 131 in 2020 and 123 last year.

A largely disappointing run of results has seen his rating drop to 114 ahead of his return to a track that clearly suits and there have been shoots of recovery in his last couple of races over hurdles.

On the all-weather at Chelmsford, it is perhaps worth taking a chance on the Mick Appleby-trained Maxzeno in the Illuminate Christmas Ball Handicap.

The four-year-old has finished second four times from nine attempts and a falling mark of 66 gives him every chance of breaking his duck.