Clandestine looks day's best bet

Clandestine can make a successful reappearance in the Tote Jackpot Hurdle at Newbury today exactly 12 months after she made a…

Clandestine can make a successful reappearance in the Tote Jackpot Hurdle at Newbury today exactly 12 months after she made a winning debut over jumps.

The filly joined Nicky Henderson last autumn after showing classy form on the Flat with John Gosden and it was no surprise that she held too many aces for her rivals last November.

A well-backed favourite she jumped like an old hand and came home a length and a half ahead of previous winner Face The Class.

Clandestine won again at Folkestone in March and found the extended three miles at Aintree in a Grade One event in April too far on her only poor run from six starts.

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Dropped back in trip to two miles, the daughter of Saddlers Hall has shown she can do herself justice first time out and is worth in the day's Showcase Handicap.

Mr Collins can initiate a double for the Seven Barrows trainer in the Sunley Novices' Hurdle. The six-year-old ran a race full of promise when only beaten a length by Haut Cercy at Taunton in March.

Shotgun Willy looks destined to be a real star over fences and can complete a sixth victory on the bounce in the valuable Elizabeth Hitchins Memorial Novices' Chase (Registered As Worcester Novices' Steeple Chase).

Trainer Paul Nicholls, no stranger to handling great horses, has barely been able to conceal his excitement about this horse over the past year as he has continued to impress in his homework and on the course.

Despite it being his first public appearance over fences, Shotgun Willy jumped round Wincanton like an old hand last month, beating Haut Cercy by six lengths.

Melodie D'avril can make a winning British debut in the Q Associates Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

Martin Pipe has enjoyed tremendous success with his French imports - Lady Cricket and Cyfor Malta immediately spring to mind - and his latest acquisition can waste no time in getting off the mark.

Pipe claimed her for 126,000 francs after she won a 13-runner event at Auteuil by three lengths.

Although it is impossible to know just how good she is at this stage, she is almost certain to be better than that bare form suggests and at the age of three has scope for plenty of improvement.

Today's meeting at Bangor was postponed yesterday due to waterlogging.