Bravemansgame takes next step on chasing ladder to possible stardom

Saturday: 1.50 Haydock
Double Daily Rewards With Betfair Graduation Chase | 2m5½f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Bravemansgame simply couldn’t have made a more impressive transition to fences on his Newton Abbot reappearance.

The exciting six-year-old, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and third to Irish heavyweights Bob Olinger and Gaillard Du Mesnil in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, jumped beautifully en route to slamming Fusil Raffles by five and a half lengths.

Bravemansgame was due to have run at Wincanton recently, but Paul Nicholls decided not to risk him on account of the fast ground there.

Wincanton’s loss is very much Haydock’s gain, and he looks one of the star attractions on an outstanding Betfair Chase card.

Nicholls said: “Good to soft ground is perfect for him. It’s not a novice chase, it’s an intermediate chase and he gets a bit of weight allowance.

“The track will suit him very well. He was very good and solid in his jumping at Newton Abbot. This will be more experience for him.”

He added: “I could have gone to Newbury next weekend but I keep looking at the forecast and I can’t see too much rain between now and then. It gives me an extra week before Kempton on Boxing Day.”

Itchy Feet: Grade 1 winner over fences two seasons agoCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Itchy Feet, with an official rating of 155, is rated 6lb superior to Bravemansgame, but has to concede 4lb to his year-younger rival.

His trainer Olly Murphy said: “Itchy Feet is in good form. The trip should suit him. The fact that he’s got a penalty and must give weight to two of his three rivals isn’t ideal, but he ran well in a handicap last time off 153.

“Whether that form entitles him to give Paul’s horse a fright, I’m not sure, but it gives him a chance of some sort.”

Alnadam must also give 4lb to Bravemansgame, and trainer Dan Skelton is under no illusions about the task his eight-year-old faces.

“Alnadam is going to struggle carrying the penalty against these, especially Bravemansgame,” he said.

“But it’s a good race for him, I need to get him started and I think the ground will be safe for him. His big-race target is the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham so I need to get him out. I’ve done loads of work with him, I know he’s fit but I just know he’ll sharpen up.”

Pay The Piper, winner of four of his seven starts for Ann Hamilton, and yet to finish out of the first two, completes a small but select field.

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