Simon Holt previews Friday's card at Cheltenham, where Potters Legend can make the most of the weight he receives in the staying handicap chase.
Recommended bets
1pt win Rowland Ward in 12.40 Cheltenham at 14/1
2pts win Agent Valdez in 1.15 Cheltenham at 9/2
1pt win Potters Legend in 2.25 Cheltenham at 7/1
AGENT VALDEZ ran away with a novices' handicap chase at Leicester last week and, back against her own sex, must have every chance of following up under a 7lb penalty in the CF Roberts Electrical and Mechanical Services Mares' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.
While it's always a risk turning horses out again quickly, trainer Fergal O'Brien will be well aware that the improving seven-year-old is set to go up a further 2lb in future handicaps, and the signs are that Paddy Brennan's lightly-raced mount is open to much more improvement.
At Leicester, it was clear from some way out that Agent Valdez was travelling better than any of her rivals and all bar one fell by the wayside and failed to finish. Going to the last, she comfortably shrugged off Lord Sparky to win by 28 lengths so confirming the promise of her previous chase debut on the same course.
A drop of two furlongs in trip here on this stiff course shouldn't be a problem and nor should the ground if the forecasted rain turns things testing.
Earlier, in the Catesby Handicap Hurdle, the four-year-old ROWLAND WARD is fancied to out-run double-figure odds.
The Stuart Edmunds-trained gelding looked a bit unlucky on this course last January when holding every chance turning for home in the Triumph Hurdle trial only to be badly hampered approaching the final flight.
An earlier defeat of Thyme White at Kempton reads well and, on his reappearance at Huntingdon last month, Rowland Ward ran creditably in third behind the promising Paul Nicholls-trained Wild Max and Constancio (good run since) on ground a bit quick for him compared to the likely conditions here.
In the Unibet Handicap Chase, Irish raider Court Maid looks sure to go well under a 5lb penalty for her recent wide-margin win at Fairyhouse, and the daughter of Court Cave is developing into a decent chaser having been unplaced in the 2019 Mares Novices' Hurdle at the Festival.
However, she will start a short enough price and has to give nearly a stone to the handily treated POTTERS LEGEND who, while never a winner at Cheltenham, has run well on several occasions here in the past off a higher mark.
For example, Lucy Wadham's 10-year-old was staying on gamely when a close fourth in the 2017 Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase over this course and distance off 4lb higher, and comes into this race in good heart following a reappearance veterans' chase win at Warwick, his first outing since a wind operation.
This test will suit Jack Quinlan's mount who looks dangerous off bottom weight.
Posted at 1510 on 10/12/20
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.
