MAHLER MISSION can become just the second Irish-trained winner of the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.50pm) since 1980 at Newbury on Saturday afternoon – if the meeting passes a precautionary inspection at 7.30am in the morning.
Although Irish raiders have a bad record in the feature at the Berkshire track John McConnell’s seven-year-old may end that. He can take the prestigious 3m2f contest and become the second from the Emerald Isle to score – Willie Mullins’ Total Recall triumphed in 2017 – since Michael O’Brien’s Bright Highway was victorious 43 years ago.
Mahler Mission won a Grade Two over hurdles and has only been out of the first three once in seven chase starts since. Following victory at Navan and a second-placed finish at Naas it looked like Mahler Mission would land his biggest win over fences, when leading in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. But he came down two fences from home with the race at his mercy. Willie Mullins’ Galliard Du Mesnil went on to win the 3m6f contest at Prestbury Park, before finishing third in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse the following month.
Mahler Mission was given a break after that mishap but he returned with an eyecatching run when second to Thunder Rock in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle last month. That was over an inadequate 2m4f trip and he looks a potential top handicap staying chaser in the making. The step back up in trip and a decent handicap mark of 151 mean he comes across the Irish Sea as one of the leading fancies to strike Gold in Berkshire. As a second-season chaser he should have plenty more to offer and with the expected improvement he can take the big pot back to Ireland.
Mahler Mission beat Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown in a novice hurdle at Perth in April last year. But the seven-year-old – a winner of three chases since including on his return at Newton Abbot in October – rates one of the biggest dangers to Mahler Mission. Dan Skelton’s Midnight River – a winner of a handicap at the Grand National Festival at Aintree in April – should also go close along with the Sam Thomas-trained recent Chepstow scorer Stolen Silver and Monbeg Genius – from the Jonjo O’Neill stable.
Joe Tizzard’s KILLER KANE can win the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.30pm). The eight-year-old finished fourth in this race last year before winning at Kempton and finishing third in the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences in April. He looked like he needed the run when fifth on his seasonal return at Wincanton at the end of October. With that under his belt Killer Kane may be able to resume winning ways ahead of chiefly Dan Skelton’s Jay Jay Reilly.
Ben Pauling’s BAD looks a good each-way option up against Nicky Henderson’s favourite Under Control in the Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Registered As The Gerry Feilden) (Premier Handicap) (2.15pm). Pauling’s four-year-old was third at Ascot last time and although he doesn’t have the form of course and distance scorer Under Control at double figures odds he should make the frame at least and may cause an upset.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ course and distance winner MANIMOLE may land a quick double in the Listed Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (11.55am) after his win at Newbury on his seasonal return last month.
Paul Nicholls’ EMAILANDY – a winner on his debut over obstacles at Plumpton last month – can make it two wins from two starts this season in the Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.05pm).
The Skeltons’ REAL STONE can land a quickfire double following his stroll to victory at Haydock Park last weekend with another success in the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase (For The Jim Joel Memorial Trophy) (GBB Race) (3.25pm). While stable-mate GET A TONIC may also score in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.40pm).
Newcastle’s meeting – which was due to see the return of the mighty Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle – fell victim to the frost and snow in the north east after it was called off yesterday afternoon.And every fixture in Britain and Ireland is under threat of being called off.
At Doncaster – another course that needs to inpsect at 7.30am before getting the go-ahead – Pauling’s JOEDADANCER can win the At The Races App Form Study Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.06pm) following wind surgery in the summer.
Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain may be able to land a winner at Doncaster with COLLINGHAM in the Allied Massarellas Cash & Carry Handicap Hurdle (1.31pm). The five-year-old can build on his seasonal reappearance fifth at Musselburgh last month to score.
Fergal O’Brien’s PEKING ROSE may take the At The Races App Expert Tips Handicap Hurdle (2.41pm); while others who may score on Town Moor are SNOWY EVENING – from the in-form Cheshire stable of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero – in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (11.49am); another Pauling-trained runner PERSONAL AMBITION in the Download The At The Races App Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.21pm); and the Fergal O’Brien-trained MISTRAL BLUE in the At The Races App Market Movers Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.56pm).
Bangor also inspect at 8am in the morning and if they get the go-ahead McCain may also triumph in the opener, the Xenon Handicap Hurdle (12.36pm), with BALLYGEARY. Greenall and Guerriero may also triumph with recent Uttoxeter scorer HERITIER in the Richard Pennell Memorial Handicap Hurdle (1.11pm). Others who may win at Bangor are Jonjo O’Neill’s CLONDAW ROYALE and OUR FRIEND MO in Thank You John Burgess Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.44pm) and the Yorton’s ‘Postponed’ Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Part of RE Series) (2.56pm) respectively; and another from the McCain stable, ISHOLO DU VIVIEN, in the finale, the Excel Signs Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (3.31pm).
Wright Ones
NEWBURY (precautionary inspection 7.30am)
11.55am Manimole
12.30pm Killer Kane
1.05pm Emailandy
1.40pm Get A Tonic
2.15pm Bad
2.50pm Mahler Mission (NAP)
3.25pm Real Stone
NEWCASTLE (abandoned)
DONCASTER (inspection 7.30am)
11.49am Snowy Evening
12.21pm Personal Ambition
12.56pm Mistral Blue
1.31pm Collingham
2.06pm Joe Dadancer
2.41pm Peking Rose
3.16pm Raise Your Glass
BANGOR (inspection 8am)
12.36pm Ballygeary
1.11pm Heritier
1.44pm Clondaw Royale
2.21pm Molly’s Third Man
2.56pm Our Friend Mo
3.31pm Isholo Du Vivien
FAIRYHOUSE (precautionary inspection 7.30am)
11.45am Corbetts Cross
12.15pm Where It All Began
12.50pm Ballyburn
1.25pm Redstone
2pm Fighting Fit
2.35pm Nusret
3.10pm Hunting Brook
3.40pm Jalon D’oudairies
SUNDAY’S NAP: Russian Virtue (Carlisle 12.35pm)
