By Molly Hunter, Press Association
King Of Answers can score on home turf when he lines up for the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase at Ayr.
Trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore near Perth, the seven-year-old was most recently seen running a fine race to finish second at 22-1 in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The run was the latest in a consistent season, with the Malinas gelding also taking a pair of Kelso steeplechases this term over a trip just shy of three miles.
At Cheltenham he stepped up in distance to three miles and six furlongs, and irrefutably had all the requisite stamina to see it out up the hill with only one horse too good for him.
The Scottish National is run over an extended four miles, another step up to an extreme staying trip, but the bay’s Cheltenham run suggested he should have no trouble managing that.
This stable is particularly adept with staying chasers and have won this race before, making their in-form contender this year a horse to follow closely.
On the same card is the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle, where Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s Captain Hugo catches the eye.
There has been only one real blip on this six-year-old’s record in his novice hurdling season, with five runs returning three wins and one second.
A fall when looking to have every chance in the Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Musselburgh is the only time he has failed to make the frame, but he bounced back when winning at Kelso last time out and looks a useful prospect.
On the Flat there is an immensely competitive early-season clash in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
The Group Three is always a high-quality affair, but this year has drawn in two particularly big names.
Aidan O’Brien’s Albert Einstein, freely touted as one of the most talented horses in his stable, is out to make amends for his beaten Gladness Stakes run – a sixth-placed finish at Listed level following a brief but unbeaten juvenile career.
Standing in his way is Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri, one of the success stories of last year when winning a novice, the July Stakes, the Vintage Stakes and the National Stakes before finishing fourth in the Dewhurst.
He makes his seasonal debut and his key rival has the benefit of a run under his belt, but the latter horse has a significant point to prove whereas Zavateri has never let his connections down and can hit the ground running with his customary good attitude.
The fillies’ equivalent, the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling in old money), is not bad, either. One or two in this might be the real deal and that includes Catching The Moon for Richard and Peter Fahey.
Beautifully bred, she won her last two from three juvenile starts and Ryan Moore rides for the first time.
SELECTIONS:
AYR: 1.10 Sans Bruit, 1.45 Diamond Dealer, 2.20 Captain Hugo, 2.55 Game Colours, 3.35 KING OF ANSWERS (NAP), 4.15 West Hill Verde, 4.48 Brady Hartsfield.
BANGOR: 1.17 Alsakib, 1.52 Black Occ, 2.27 Reckless Spending, 3.02 Killycarn, 3.40 I C U In My Dreams, 4.10 Carrigeen Castle, 4.42 Dwight K Schrute, 5.17 Jetzet.
BELLEWSTOWN: 2.05 Ole Ole, 2.40 Tippawan Haa, 3.15 Fiver Friday, 3.50 Galavanting George, 4.25 Ballinearla Girl, 5.00 Money Heist, 5.35 Gillane.
NEWBURY: 1.25 Catching The Moon, 2.00 Zavateri, 2.35 Phantom Flight, 3.10 Rogue Diplomat, 3.45 King Of Earth, 4.20 Turty Tree, 4.55 Valedictory.
NOTTINGHAM: 4.05 Eskimo Pie, 4.37 Frantic, 5.12 Faithful Dream, 5.45 Level Up, 6.15 Influential, 6.45 Joseph, 7.15 Fifty Sent, 7.45 Raysham.
THIRSK: 1.37 Silesia, 2.12 Inishbeg, 2.47 Stirrup Cup, 3.23 Count Palatine, 3.58 Mudamer, 4.32 Hackney Diamonds, 5.07 Merlier, 5.40 Golden Prosperity.
DOUBLE: King Of Answers and Zavateri.
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
