Warbler worth singing about

Racing/Leicester preview: Dusky Warbler looks a good thing to book his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with victory at Leicester today.

Formerly a useful stayer for Michael Bell on the Flat, Dusky Warbler bolted up on his debut over timber here earlier this month and it will be something of a shock if he does not follow up in the opening race on the card, the gg.com Novices' Hurdle.

His new trainer, Gary Moore, opted to bypass a Grade Two contest at the weekend in favour of an easier option on just his second start over obstacles, and that was probably the wise thing to do with a view to Cheltenham.

The six-year-old Ezzoud gelding jumped perfectly well and never looked in any danger, leaving the strong impression there is plenty more to come on soft ground that suits.

Age is proving no barrier to success for Barton Nic at the moment and he can continue his winning run in the Brook Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

A proven mudlark, he won with plenty to spare at Chepstow last week and even with a 7lb penalty he is still racing from way below his last winning mark over hurdles.

Successful at Plumpton a few days before that, Barton Nic can rattle up a quick hat-trick.

Tana River adds a further touch of class to what is a pretty decent fixture, and he can come out on top in the Dick Christian Novices' Chase.

At Sedgefield, the luckless Red Flyer can make amends for last week's upset at Newcastle in the John Wade Skip Hire Selling Handicap Hurdle.