By Tony Kelshaw
Nassalam looks well treated in the Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase if handling a step up in distance at Chepstow.
Gary Moore’s six-year-old picked up a 4lb penalty for cruising home in the trial for this here recently, but has been hiked up by twice that amount on official ratings as a result of that eyecatching display.
Having returned to form with a promising fourth in the Grand Sefton at Aintree, Nassalam clearly benefited from wearing blinkers for the first time in almost two years.
Jockey Caolin Quinn reported that his mount had worked well in the same headgear prior to that trip to Wales, describing him as a completely different horse.
This half-brother to smart hurdler Msassa had looked a useful prospect when winning twice as a juvenile over timber and then producing form figures of 11221 as a novice chaser.
He lost his way when competing in a series of hot handicaps last term but is now obviously back on track and ready to pull off the big win he has always promised.
Burdett Road is hard to oppose in the Grade Two Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle after already establishing himself as a leading fancy for the Triumph in March.
A Royal Ascot scorer on the level, he hacked up at Huntingdon on his jumping debut and then followed up in impressive fashion at Cheltenham under a confident ride from Harry Cobden.
An Bradan Feasa was six and a half lengths back in second that day and has since franked the form by winning in fine style back at Prestbury Park, so Burdett Road’s claims are obvious.
Good Risk At All was let down by his jumping when joint-favourite with Broadway Boy for a hot race at Cheltenham but had previously shone in a wide-margin Carlisle strike.
Although aided by the departure of Giovinco that day, he was always travelling as well as Lucinda Russell’s highly-rated charge and is worth sticking with in the Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase.
At Kempton, Master Chewy looks to have a good opportunity to pick up a deserved decent prize in the Grade Two Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.
Having not quite lived up to his £300,000 price tag over hurdles, the six-year-old took to fences well when scoring by 12 lengths at Aintree in October and then made Djelo pull out all the stops at the same venue.
That form has been franked by the winner since and Master Chewy may have been a touch unfortunate to come up against a rejuvenated Elixir De Nutz at Newbury next time out.
Boothill won the Wayward Lad race on this card 12 months ago and can make a triumphant return to the track in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase over the same two-mile distance.
Harry Fry’s eight-year-old has highlighted his well-being this term with an Ascot double, showing a really good attitude on both occasions, even if he was assisted by Saint Segal’s final-fence fall last time.
Hidden Heroics has been a bit of a slow-burner this season but now seems in fine spirits and gets the nod in the Ladbrokes Get Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase.
Dan Skelton’s charge was set to finish a solid third behind Hold That Taught and Tea Clipper at Ascot but fell at the last before staying on strongly to score at Ludlow, a victory that should have done his confidence the world of good.
Glimpse Of Gala made a pleasing seasonal reappearance at Worcester and can repeat last year’s victory in the Ladbrokes Fanzone Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
There are a couple of Grade One events in Ireland at Leopardstown, where Queen Mother Champion Chase runner-up Captain Guinness stands out in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase after a comfortable Navan strike last month.
The JP McManus-owned Down Memory Lane steps up in class following a facile Down Royal success but can justify his lofty reputation in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle star Marine Nationale is set to make his eagerly-awaited debut over fences in the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase.
The richest race of the day in Ireland, though, is the Paddy Power Chase and Desertmore House appeals in this Listed-class handicap after powering away from the final fence to land the Kerry National at Listowel.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
WETHERBY: Race 1: 13.50 The Same, Race 2: 14.25 Clovis Boy, Race 3: 15.00 Anti Bridgie,
Race 4: 15.35 Sao Carlos, Race 5: 16.15 Kabral Du Mathan, Race 6: 16.45 Xcitations, Race 7:
17.20 Super Saint.
CHEPSTOW: Race 1: 14.00 Minella Blueway, Race 2: 14.30 Ito Ditto, Race 3: 15.05 Good Risk
At All, Race 4: 15.40 Crossing The Bar, Race 5: 16.10 Burdett Road, Race 6: 16.50 NASSALAM
(NAP), Race 7: 17.25 Greenrock Abbey, Race 8: 17.55 Kap Boy.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 14.45 Brookie, Race 2: 15.20 Sir Gino, Race 3: 15.55 Master Chewy, Race
4: 16.30 Boothill, Race 5: 17.09 Hidden Heroics, Race 6: 17.40 Glimpse Of Gala.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 19.00 First Company, Race 2: 19.30 Warminster, Race 3: 20.00
Completely Random, Race 4: 20.30 Spritzin', Race 5: 21.00 Heet, Race 6: 21.30 Espresso
Freddo, Race 7: 22.00 Snooze Lane, Race 8: 22.30 Gustav Graves.
ALL TO COME: Master Chewy (Kempton, Race 3) and Nassalam (Chepstow, Race 6).
For fields, betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com