Hobbs unleashes smart young prospect Evidence De Thaix over hurdles at Lingfield

Exciting young mare Evidence De Thaix will hope to boost her Cheltenham credentials as the current Mares Novices' Hurdle 20-1 chance makes her debut over obstacles at Lingfield (3.30).

JP McManus's four-year-old enjoyed two wins from three in France last year, looking a smart prospect when defeating Extra Noire by four lengths.

Extra Noire went on to frank that form by beating future Grade 1 winner Epatante, another for McManus and trained by Nicky Henderson, who is a general 6-1 favourite for the same event at the festival.

Trainer Philip Hobbs, who enjoyed two winners from three runners on Monday, said: "She seems a really nice young horse and I'm very pleased with her. It is her first run for us and she has done everything well at home so I'd like to hope she will run very well."

The Minehead trainer also runs Ecu De La Noverie (2.00), who battled strongly to land a competitive novice hurdle at Newbury last time out, and Diplomate Sivola (2.30) who was a half-length second at Fontwell a week ago.

He added: "Ecu De La Noverie won well at Newbury and I think the mark he is on right now is quite fair. I hope that he will run very well.

"Diplomate Sivola will probably go up a fair old bit in the handicap after his second last week. We thought it was worth running him and I'd hope he has got a good chance."

Elsewhere on the card, the impressive Dan Skelton-trained Carlisle novice winner Clondaw Anchor aims for a second career success (1.00) while the nicely-bred El Kaldoun makes his debut for the Middleham Park team (12.30).

Whittington aims for another successful northern raid

Harry Whittington must enjoy the 510-mile round trip from his Lambourn stables to Sedgefield, having won five times from eight runners at the Durham venue.

He runs Speedy Cargo in the maiden hurdle (3.20), who finished fifth at the track at the start of the month but is expected to improve on his return.

Whittington said: "We seem to do well at Sedgefield so long may it continue. Speedy Cargo seems in good form, he needed some schooling on the grass which we couldn't get before the last day and he didn't jump well enough.

"He has been schooling a bit more and he is ready to go again. Hopefully he will run well."

Lord Of The Rock, a former Spring Mile winner, is an interesting runner on the card making his debut over hurdles for Lawrence Mullaney (2.20).

Watson hoping Rare can step up at Southwell

The Archie Watson-trained Rare has not quite lived up to her exciting pedigree and $420,000 price tag thus far, but she has a chance to get off the mark at Southwell (12.40) on Tuesday.

The daughter of Galileo, and a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner Blue Bunting, has failed to fire in five starts despite an improved third at Lingfield on her first start for Watson since leaving Sir Michael Stoute.

Watson said: "It was only her first run for us the other day and she didn't have the best trip. I thought she ran a solid race and I would like to think she will come on from a fitness perspective.

"She will have to take to the surface, but it looks the right race for her and if she can run to the level of form she has shown on a few occasions then she should go very close."

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