In-form Drama can score for McCain

MINELLA DRAMA can continue Donald McCain’s fantastic season with a win in the Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

The six-year-old was runner-up to My Drogo in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April and has looked even better over fences on his two runs this season, winning at Uttoxeter then going very close in a hot little graduation chase at Carlisle.

He still did not look the finished article over his fences at the Cumbrian track so there can be optimism he can gain revenge on his shorthead conqueror War Lord, and account for the remainder of the Grade 1 field as well.

Another interesting entry for McCain on the Sandown card is Could Be Trouble in the mares’ handicap hurdle. She was pulled up on her chase debut at Bangor last time out but went there having won her previous four hurdle starts, and she can bounce back with a big run when reverting to that discipline.

Navajo Pass excelled for McCain last season, winning the Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock in January, and he is handicapped to go well in the Listed hurdle at Sandown on Saturday. The five-year-old will be returning to action having had wind surgery since his last run.

Navajo Pass is also entered in a handicap hurdle at Aintree on Saturday but preference in that would be for Sandy Thomson’s Storm Nelson, who was highly progressive when winning all three starts last season.

Thomson is also set to saddle Hill Sixteen in the Unibet Becher Handicap Chase and the eight-year-old can play a leading role on his second start for the trainer, who has a good record with recruits from other yards. The two-time chase winner shaped as though he would improve for the run when an encouraging sixth on his stable debut at Carlisle in October.

Schiehallion Munro was in the process of running a cracker when falling two out on last month’s reappearance at Wetherby, and having been left alone by the handicapper he makes plenty of appeal in the 2m4f handicap chase at Aintree on Saturday, with the track set to suit his front-running style.

Also worth noting

Duc De Grissay (Sandy Thomson) in the 1.03 at Kelso on Sunday

Bushy Park (Phil Kirby) in the 1.35 at Kelso on Sunday