The team return with two selections from New Years Day’s jumping action…
Listed course winner Liari is taken to add to his Musselburgh tally in the 2m3f LiveScore Bet Best Odds Daily Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (13:45) on Wednesday.
P F Nicholls ' gelding's fifth in the Gerry Fielden Handicap at Newbury perhaps makes for better reading retrospectively, given that four horses who finished behind Liari that day won on next appearance. Down to an official rating of 129 for that effort, the handicapper's assessment could prove lenient in time.
Musselburgh is evidently a track the five-year-old has taken to, given the impressive manner of his victory here last season. Paul Nicholls also boasts a remarkable course record, returning a 34% strike rate and a positive P/L of 6.68 to a £1 level stake when sending runners to East Lothian.
It is also pertinent to note that Liari was sent off 9/2 favourite for the Boodles Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 134. Although he was pulled up that day, his participation gives weight to connections' expectations for the son of Cracksman.
Useful claimer Ben Bromley's booking is a further positive to factor into considerations, who eases the burden by 5lb and the 9/4 available could underestimate Liari's chances.
LIARI – WIN – 9/4
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Likeable veteran Cloudy Glen was solid on the clock last time out and is taken to put up a challenge to the favourite in the 3m1f Betfair Handicap Chase (13:30) at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
While Coral Gold Cup winner Broadway Boy needs no introduction, he doesn't represent value at odds-on carrying top weight. Cloudy Glen, on the contrary, registered a career best speed figure of 108 (ATR) when winning by seven lengths at Haydock on his last start. This implies that there is still some scope for improvement left in the twelve-year-old.
Beyond the numbers, the form of that race has been franked with Good Boy Bobby in second going on to clock the same figure when a fast-finishing third in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby.
While the 'Venetia Williams on soft ground' cliché may be somewhat tired, the gelding holds genuine form in testing conditions. The trip shouldn't prove an issue, with three wins in the formbook at distances greater than three miles.
With 17/2 available, Cloudy Glen rates an overpriced quantity.
CLOUDY GLEN – EACH WAY – 17/2
