Improving Chaser To Be King Of Leicester

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Topical Tip Has Conditions In His Favour On Return To Fences

The spelling might be difficult but the name of Wenceslaus will surely be easy to remember for ‘coincidence’ punters looking for a seasonal flavour in their bets today.

The seven-year-old gelding goes for the Bradgate Park Handicap Chase at Leicester this afternoon and has distinctly more than a random chance of getting his head in front where it matters.

After over seven months away from the course he produced a third and a win in chases in early October, and then a runner-up spot in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in November.

The latter was won by another gelding with a name suitable for that time of year (Remembrance) in Battleofthesomme, a horse who had won his previous race by 15 lengths.

Wenceslaus has won over an extended two miles and three furlongs but has been campaigned more over today’s two miles and won twice over hurdles at that trip last Autumn.

His win over fences came at Plumpton in the third week of October and was off a mark of 98 with Tom Cannon up; he races off 104 today, with Brendan Powell taking the reins for trainer David Bridgwater.

The pair are six from 26, 95% better than expected at the course.

The horse is clearly an improver over the bigger obstacles and can defy his rise in the weights here.

LADY MASTER is top rated on BTO but was pulled up on reappearance at Uttoxeter a month ago after 227 days away from racing.

LAND LEAGUE is being backed and is now best at 9/2, but hasn’t got his head in front for over two years, though he is now on his lowest ever career mark.

JOLY MAKER is second on BTO ratings and is back down in trip – encouraging as he won over a just under two miles three outings ago.

He is 5lb higher today than when winning that race as well as another 3lb that top apprentice Jonjo O’Neill Jr claimed.

William Hill and Unibet have Wenceslaus at 11/4 and that might be a gift at present.

G Lees

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