HOGANVILLE is fancied to defend his unbeaten record for George Bewley and Connor Rabbitt by landing the Racing TV 100% Profits Returned To Racing Handicap Hurdle (1.55) at Kelso today.
The former Paul Nolan trainee laughed at odds of 18-1 when landing a handicap hurdle at Hexham in September by three lengths on his British debut.
And my selection, again ridden by going-places claimer Rabbitt, defied a 6lb rise in the weights when beating The Questioner by a head at Ayr last month.
There is an additional 4lb to deal with here, but the runner-up went one better at Ascot last Friday and the step up to three and a quarter miles should hold no terrors for a horse who still has more to give.
At Lingfield, COOLVALLA should take his record over fences to 2-2 by beating nine rivals for the At The Races App Market Movers Handicap Chase (12.55).
There was much to like about the Chris Gordon-saddled son of Westerner’s first start over the larger obstacles, which yielded a seven-length supremacy at Fontwell Park 20 days ago.
In the circumstances, a 10lb rise in the handicap was to be expected, but Coolvalla, whose stable is flying, is a long way from the bottom of the barrel, and the follow-up is on the cards.
THURSDAY'S SELECTIONS
LINGFIELD
12.25 BIG PICTURE
12.55 COOLVALLA (NB)
1.30 ROGER RAREBIT
2.05 HOT ROD LINCOLN
2.35 GOOD LUCK CHARM
3.05 TIME FOR HOLLIE
3.35 WALK IN THE WILD
TAUNTON
12.40 TIMEFORATUNE
1.10 CAN YOU CALL
1.45 I SPY A DIVA
2.20 HUELGOAT
2.50 LOVE ACTUALLY
3.20 LAZY SUNDAY
3.50 COLONY QUEEN
KELSO
12.48 CHAPEL GREEN
1.20 ROCKMANN
1.55 HOGANVILLE (NAP)
2.28 MISS MILANO
2.58 BRAYHILL
3.28 GIPSY LEE ROSE
DOUBLE: HOGANVILLE and COOLVALLA
