ANTEROS can supply his trainer Sophie Leech with a nice winner at Sandown this afternoon.The eight-year-old is a pretty useful operator when he has conditions to suit and looks overpriced for the Betfred Mobile Heroes Handicap Hurdle.
Anteros tried his hand over fences in December, finishing a rather unimpressive fourth at Uttoxeter, but he looked revitalised upon his return to hurdling at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Leech’s inmate made a seamless return to three miles in a competitive handicap hurdle when he finished third in heavy ground.
He was only beaten three-and-three-quarter lengths by Singlefarmpayment, yet might even have got a shade closer had he not been pinched for room at the last.
That should set up Anteros nicely for this Grade Three, especially as there is likely to be a fair bit of give in the Esher terrain.
He is hardly a handicap snip, but with stamina seemingly not an issue and the very capable Ciaran Gethings claiming 5lb, he might just catch a few by surprise.
All eyes will be on Tea For Two and Lizzie Kelly in the Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
Kelly made history in becoming the first woman to ride a Grade One winner in Britain when the pair scored in style at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.
The Nick Williams-trained seven-year-old was also a good hurdler and with Cheltenham not on his radar, races like this have been specifically targeted.
Peace And Co badly blotted his copybook in the International at Cheltenham when tearing away with Daryl Jacob but the wheels should be back on the wagon after the Betfred Racing “Follow Us On Twitter” Contenders Hurdle.
Thought of as Britain’s best chance of taking the Champion Hurdle crown, Nicky Henderson has left no stone unturned in his bid to get him back on track.
There’s good racing on the Flat at Lingfield, where Lightscameraction is a likely player in the Unibet Cleves Stakes.
Gay Kelleway’s sprinter looked really good over five furlongs at this track in December when he skipped nearly two lengths clear of Brother Tiger under Adam Kirby.
The four-year-old chestnut could not back that up at Chelmsford last month, finishing third to Lancelot Du Lac, but Kelleway interestingly said afterwards that Lightscameraction was not quite as fit as she had wanted him to be.
