Well-handicapped Mr Mafia to gun down Chepstow rivals late on

Mr Mafia, much better handicapped over hurdles than fences, is fancied to build on his highly encouraging last-time-out performance at Chepstow by landing the Clive Barford Ltd Supporting Velindre “Confined” Handicap Hurdle (3.05) at the same venue.

That effort saw Mr Mafia beaten just three-quarters of a length by Upbeat Cobbler in a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase off a mark of 102.

However, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that Tony Carroll’s seven-year-old emerged as much the best horse at the weights that day after circumstances conspired against him.