Devereaux for Chandler glory
Young Devereaux can make up for lost time with victory in the £120,000 (€183,000) Victor Chandler Chase over two miles at Ascot tomorrow.
The fragile chaser has a history of leg trouble and has been fired but is now reported in good form by his trainer Paul Nicholls since making a winning return over tomorrow’s course and distance last month, beating Seebald by a length, on only his second start in the last two seasons.
After a promising reappearance at Newbury, Young Devereaux was made ante-post favourite for last year’s Victor Chandler but was forced through injury to bypass the race.
Young Devereaux has raced only nine times in all, the last five of which were over fences, and still has bags of scope for improvement.
He looks the one to be on in tomorrow’s feature.
Nicholls can complete a big-race across-the-card double with Whitenzo in the Tote Classic Chase at Warwick.
Whitenzo would have gone close in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury last time out but for a blunder four out.
He still recovered to finish a close fourth and judged on that effort he can make amends in tomorrow’s £100,000 (€153,000) contest.
However, best bet of the day looks to be Vanbrugh in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap at Lingfield.
The Gay Kelleway-trained gelding was a revelation at Southwell last Saturday when he routed his rivals over a mile, trouncing Now Then Sophie by eight lengths on his first attempt in handicap company.
Wearing a tongue strap for the first time, Vanbrugh made hacks of the opposition, scooting clear from the distance to score with ease.
Steadied before the line, he was value for at least 10 lengths and he should not be missed tomorrow.
Miss Kelleway can complete a double at the Surrey track with Lygeton Lad in the Bet Direct On 0800 32 93 93 Handicap.
This consistent performer won five times in a busy campaign last term and judged on his first start of the New Year has lost none of his ability or enthusiasm.
He kept on for fourth place behind Middleton Grey on Wolverhampton’s fibresand surface.
Lygeton Lad is a better horse on the Polytrack and improvement can be expected.
He looks a good bet to open his account for 2003 tomorrow.
Gerard Butler does well with his team of all-weather runners and the trainer can strike with Compton Emperor in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap.
The son of Bijou D’Inde won a well-contested maiden event at Musselburgh in November, beating Wozzeck a shade cosily by one and a quarter lengths.
He looks the sort to make up into a useful three-year-old and can get his new season off to a winning start tomorrow.
With doubts surrounding the jump meetings an extra fixture at Southwell has been arranged for tomorrow.
And the best value on the seven-race card could lie with the Richard Fahey-trained Inch Perfect in the Bet Direct On Sky Text Page 371 Handicap.
He won at the track last Saturday, when he showed plenty of resolution to beat Penwell Hill by a neck, and would not have to improve too much to take the measure of his rivals tomorrow.
