Chasing Fire can enhance Supreme claims with victory

Afadil

1.22 Musselburgh, 1m7½f Listed juvenile hurdle

Paul Nicholls has landed the last three of the last nine runnings of this Triumph Hurdle trial and can secure another courtesy of Afadil. The four-year-old displayed enough potential in three Flat starts in France to encourage connections to part with €255,000 to secure his services and the early signs are promising judged on his hurdling debut success at Taunton last month. The bare form is nothing to crow about, but the manner of victory was as the two-length winning margin could easily have 22 had his rider so wished. This is obviously a much tougher assignment, but his yard has a good handle on the juvenile hurdle division thanks to the admirable Dixon Cove and an impressive win here would probably see Afadil emerge as Britian’s leading Triumph contender.

Fils De Roi is next best. Fergal O’Brien’s four-year-old has some decent form in France and there was plenty to like about his Huntingdon success on his British debut. He looked booked for fourth when falling at the last in a Grade 2 at Chepstow last time, but even a repeat of that should see him in the places here.

Best alternative: Fils De Roi Friend Or Foe

1.55 Musselburgh, 2m handicap chase

Paul Nicholls won three successive runnings of this contest between 2017 and 2020 (meeting abandoned in 2019) and has a decent chance of landing another with Friend Or Foe and Cap Du Mathan entered. It’s the former who earns the vote and his recent drop to a mark of 140 just about makes him eligible for this contest. The eight-year-old hasn’t been at his best in a couple of starts this term, but recent history shows he usually needs a couple of runs to put him straight. He should be primed for this, and with conditions likely to be favourable, he can make his class tell off top weight.

Stablemate Cap Du Mathan cannot be taken lightly and gives his yard another decent option. The eight-year-old was originally thought to have wanted a bit further than two miles, but an aggressive ride over this trip brought out the best in him at Taunton last time and there may be more to come from him off a mark of 135.

Best alternative: Cap Du Mathan

Chasing Fire

2.25 Musselburgh, 1m7½f novice hurdle

Chasing Fire has the potential to be one of Britain’s leading contenders for the Supreme at Cheltenham and he can prove the point with victory here.

Olly Murphy’s six-year-old was a winner of his sole Irish point-to-point start in October 2021, after which he purchased by current connections for £170,000. Since then, Chasing Fire has struck on his only bumper run last season and has won both starts over hurdles this term.

Those hurdling wins came at Market Rasen where both times he has come home 16 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer with plenty in the tank. It’s hard to say how good he is at this stage, but he is clearly worth upping in grade now and this looks like a sensible stepping stone to next month’s festival

Toothless is the main danger. He may have no more than minor promise in three hurdle runs in France last year, but the five-year-old posted a vastly improved performance when winning by 35 lengths on his first start for Paul Nicholls at Fakenham last month. He could be anything and he clearly cannot be taken lightly.

Best alternative: Toothless Sweet Will

2.55 Musselburgh, 3m handicap hurdle

Sweet Will has been in good form this season and can secure his third victory of the season. Gavin Cromwell’s six-year-old won back-to-back handicap hurdles in November with the second of those coming at Cheltenham off a mark of 114 and won convincingly enough there to suggest a 12lb mark remains within his capabilities.

Beaten back off a lower mark in a chase over 2m5f on testing ground at Fairyhouse last time out, he stayed on well for second, hinting that he may have more to give now upped to 3m for the first time. He’ll need to win if connections hold Pertemps Final aspirations for him and if he does, he’ll certainly be worth considering at the festival.

Wakool is next best. Nick Alexander’s seven-year-old was runner-up in this last year off 131 and, while he is 9lb higher this time, his form has been good enough this term to suggest he can be competitive again off a mark of 140.