PAUL NICHOLLS, the leading British trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with two winners, can add to his good form by landing the Melanie And Philip Gibbs RNLI ‘Hands And Heels’ Handicap Hurdle at Taunton (1.40) on Monday.
He saddles handicap debutant IOUPY COLLONGES, who is fancied to make it three wins from four starts under Rules.
The former Irish point-to-pointer, improved for the step up in trip to just shy of two and a half miles when an easy winner at Chepstow last month.
Making all, he ran out a 10-length winner from Bertie Blue.
Previously, the son Of Kitkou showed a good attitude to prevail by a neck over Goonhilly on his Rules debut at Hereford over two miles and then was runner-up at Exeter to Hermes Du Gouet over a similar trip.
He should take all the beating today.
Later on the card, DOCTOR KEN (3.15) can prove just the tonic for punters in the Anthony Trollope-Bellew Memorial Handicap Chase.
The Olly Murphy-trained seven-year-old has improved markedly since a wind operation last year.
He was runner-up over hurdles at Market Rasen last March then won on his chasing debut at Aintree in November, beating Ree Okka by two and a quarter lengths.
Last time out, he lost little in defeat when narrowly beaten by subsequent winner Gold Cup Bailly at Ayr over two and a half miles in November.
And with today’s longer trip over three furlongs further likely to suit even more, he can get back in the winners’ enclosure.
MONDAY'S SELECTIONS
TAUNTON
1.40 IOUPY COLLONGES (NAP)
2.10 OUT OF OFFICE
2.45 MY GIRL KATIE
3.15 DOCTOR KEN (NB)
3.45 IN THE AIR
4.15 KIM EYRE
4.45 SALADINS SON
SOUTHWELL
2.00 ALI STAR BERT
2.35 COASTGUARD STATION
3.05 SANDA RENA
3.35 WHITE RHINO
4.05 EMILY WADE
4.35 GET UP MUSH
5.05 WALK IN THE STORM
NEWSBOY'S DOUBLE: IOUPY COLLONGES and DOCTOR KEN
