Harry Fry hoping for another Coral Hurdle victory with If The Cap Fits

Coral Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m31/2f | ITV/SKY

Sean Bowen may no longer ride Cyrname but he gets back on board another Grade 1 winner earlier in the afternoon.

The jockey, who won three times on the Christy 1965 Chase contender as a novice, made his top-level breakthrough on If The Cap Fits in the Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree last April.

That game effort, rallying bravely between horses to lead close home on his first crack at 3m, earned his mount the chance to aim for top staying honours in 2019-20.

And a potentially profitable campaign begins with a bid for a repeat victory in a race he took under the now-retired Noel Fehily last year.

"On the back of his success at Aintree we're sticking to hurdles this season," said trainer Harry Fry.

"He won the Coral Hurdle 12 months ago and we thought it was a lovely starting point. We're looking forward to seeing him out again.

"The Long Walk could be the long-term target but this is a very good race in its own right and we hope he can put up a good performance."

Call him an impressive winner

Few 'experiments' work as well as the one over a longer trip which Nicky Henderson gave Call Me Lord in the Select Hurdle at Sandown last year.

It paid off in spectacular style as the Imperial Cup runner-up flew home 17 lengths clear in that end-of-season Grade 2 event, looking a high-class prospect.

The six-year-old has managed just two outings since that impressive effort but his Imperial Cup third off a BHA mark of 160 in March showed he retains all his ability and he escapes any penalty on this return to Graded company.

"He's a good horse but this is a good race. He's been training really well at home, so I'm hopeful about his chances; but it's a good race, so it's not going to be easy for him," Henderson said.

Fitness Roks

Dan Skelton hopes that having a prep run will help OLBG Mares' Hurdle winner Roksana get her revenge on If The Cap Fits seven months on.

His seven-year-old was caught by today's rival in the final strides of a Grade 1 event at Aintree, where she also suffered an agonisingly narrow defeat in a conditions event a fortnight ago.

Her conqueror is unraced since and Skelton said: "I'm very happy with Roksana and I think the fact she's got a run on her main rivals is very important and could be telling.

"She's had a run, which stands her in good stead as she always improves for a race. The soft ground will be ideal for her and she gets the mares' allowance."

La Patriote in 'big-boy company'

Le Patriote steps up in class, having completed a hat-trick of handicap victories when landing the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock last May.

He has not raced since but trainer Richard Newland said: "He looks good and we're very pleased with him. He's trained nicely over the summer.

"Obviously, he was quite progressive last spring and we've got to see whether he can continue that. He's in big-boy company and it's quite a big step up, but he's in good form and I'm pretty hopeful he'll give a good show of himself."

Le Patriote clears a flight en route to victory in the Swinton HurdleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Lil Rockerfeller reverts to hurdles in a race he won in 2017 and finished second the previous year.

He was second in a 2m7f chase at Chepstow last month but finished third in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell in February.

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