Sam King is back with two big-price selections on Tuesday…
We head to Kempton for our first wager, where I suspect Ideal Des Bordes has more to offer over fences in the (3.55).
Nicky Henderson's charge ran as though something was amiss when he pulled up over an extended two and a half miles here on his third chase start in February.
With that in mind, it's no surprise to see connections opt for a subsequent wind operation, and I'd happily forgive him that recent effort, assuming they've now sorted out the issue.
The form of his chasing debut success at Wincanton looks only fair for the grade, but from what you could see that day (visibility reduced by fog), he appeared to learn plenty of the job before coming home in taking style.
He lost very little in defeat when runner-up to Hughie Morrison's Eyed on his next outing over course and distance, travelling strongly throughout prior to being narrowly outpointed in the closing stages. The winner of that contest has gone on to finish an excellent second in a Class 2 novices' handicap chase over the same trip at Uttoxeter, while Sea Invasion, who finished 24 lengths adrift in third, subsequently posted a fair runner-up effort at Exeter to give the form a sound enough look.
The gelded son of Coastal Path ran well behind the now 135-rated pair Beat The Bat and Welcom To Cartries in a maiden hurdle at Ascot last season. Off a current mark of 125, Nicky Henderson's charge is a confident selection to get back to winning ways over fences.
1pt Win – Ideal Des Bordes
Odds – 2/1
Over at Wolverhampton, dropping to six furlongs for the first time could work the oracle in the six-furlong handicap (7.00) for Giant, who has been running well without seeing out his races over further in recent outings.
The Richard Spencer-trained four-year-old continues to perform with credit in decent handicaps but fails to see it out in the closing stages.
He only weakened out of contention on the approach to the final furlong when fourth off a mark of 80 here in January, before a similar story occurred over the same seven-furlong trip at Kempton last time.
A 1lb ease in the weights will not do his chances any harm, while you'd expect George Wood to be fairly positive from stall four on this son of Coventry Stakes hero Rajasinghe.
1pt Win -Giant
Odds – 4/1
