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Goshen can take Contenders gold

Goshen can get his career back on track in the Virgin Bet Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.

Goshen ridden by Jamie Moore. Goshen can get his career back on track in the Virgin Bet Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.
Goshen ridden by Jamie Moore. Goshen can get his career back on track in the Virgin Bet Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.

Gary Moore's charge looked a genuine Champion Hurdle contender when slamming Song For Someone by 22 lengths in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton 12 months ago, but then failed to make the grade in both the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

Stepping up in trip for two of his three starts this season has not worked out, while he found giving weight all round in a valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot beyond him.

Goshen has yet to lay the ghost of his dramatic exit in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020, but Moore has not lost faith in his stable star, who did well to finish as close as he did at Lingfield a fortnight ago after hanging badly right for much of the way.

Going back right-handed, the six-year-old is given another chance in what does not look a vintage renewal of this Listed contest.

A return to three miles can see Dans Le Vent regain winning ways in the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle.

Evan Williams' nine-year-old relished that trip when taking a valuable handicap at Haydock in November. He has run creditably in both his starts since, but both runs were over shorter and he has looked to be crying out for a step back up in distance.

L'Homme Presse can enhance his his claims for Cheltenham by maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase.

The seven-year-old has made a tremendous start to his career over fences with a 100 per cent record in three races.

He looked very good when making all the running to lift he Dipper Chase at Cheltenham by 10 lengths and will be hard to beat if he is in that form.

Ahoy Senor is also expected to book his ticket to Cheltenham by bouncing back to winning ways in the William Hill Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.

Lucinda Russell's team rate the seven-year-old so highly they have given him an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, as well as in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

And that was despite him getting comprehensively beaten by Bravemansgame in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Connections put that defeat down to the course and the more galloping nature of the track in West Yorkshire should suit him much better. Ahoy Senor certainly looked exciting when winning his previous start at Newbury by 31 lengths to open his chasing account.

Highland Hunter can gain compensation for his brave effort in defeat in the Welsh National by landing the bet365 Edinburgh equivalent at Musselburgh.

The nine-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, found only Iwilldoit too good in the Chepstow marathon and is expected to go one better, despite the burden of top-weight.

Highland Hunter showed he acts on this track when winning a Pertemps Hurdle qualifier at this meeting two years ago.

Bardenstown Lad looks another likely winner on these shores for Irish trainer John McConnell following Mahler's Mission's triumph in a Grade Two heat at Doncaster last week.

Bardenstown Lad has been off the track since scoring at Cheltenham in October, but is sure to be fit enough to do himself justice in the bet365 Scottish Stayers' Novices' Hurdle ahead of a possible tilt at the Albert Bartlett at the Festival next month.

Al Zaraqaan is fancied to claim top honours in the Betway Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield.

A multiple winner for William Haggas, the five-year-old was snapped up for 45,000 guineas by Hambleton Racing after being sold as part of the Shadwell dispersal in October.

He gave his new owners an immediate return on their investment when making a successful debut for Archie Watson at Newcastle three weeks ago and another bold bid is anticipated.

The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup is the feature event on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival – and Frodon appears to have every chance of bringing the prize back to Britain.

The popular Paul Nicholls-trained chaser paid for going too fast in soft ground when defending his crown in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The sounder surface at Leopardstown should suit him much better and he will take some pegging back if getting into his usual fluent rhythm out in front.

SELECTIONS:

KEMPTON: 4.55 Wonder Starelzaam, 5.25 Harbour Project, 5.55 Nahanni, 6.30 Nayef Road, 7.00 Lincoln Gamble, 7.30 Twistaline, 8.00 Win Win Power.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 1.05 Hollow Games, 1.35 Fil Dor, 2.10 Haut En Couleurs, 2.45 Good Time Jonny, 3.15 Frodon, 3.50 A Wave Of The Sea, 4.25 Facile Vega.

LINGFIELD: 1.11 Peerless Percy, 1.45 Fight For It, 2.16 Neat And Dandy, 2.51 Deputise, 3.25 Al Zaraqaan, 4.00 Lord Of The Lodge, 4.35 Militry Decoration.

MUSSELBURGH: 12.57 Pay The Piper, 1.29 Bardenstown Lad, 2.05 Cool Mix, 2.40 Socialist Agenda, 3.10 Sarvi, 3.45 Highland Hunter, 4.19 Soldier Of Love.

SANDOWN: 12.40 Shallwehaveonemore, 1.15 Gunsight Ridge, 1.50 GOSHEN (NAP), 2.20 L'Homme Presse, 2.55 Dans Le Vent, 3.30 Five Star Getaway, 4.05 Whydah Gally.

WETHERBY: 12.50 Our Jet, 1.22 Barton Knoll, 1.58 Amber Gold, 2.30 Ahoy Senor, 3.00 No Risk Des Flos, 3.38 Dubai Quest, 4.10 Rathmacknee.

DOUBLE: Goshen and Dans Le Vent.


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