Skelton hoping for bold defence from Value At Risk as 200 bid continues

There could be Value in Risk's Ayr return

Dan Skelton has long planned the talented but occasionally frustrating Value At Risk's campaign around his defence of the Listed Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (3.25) at Ayr.

The ten-year-old was a smart bumper horse in Ireland and well touted during his younger days as a hurdler for Skelton, winning a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. However, he boasts an in-and-out profile, although Skelton, not far off reaching 200 winners for the season, has always planned to target the £50,000 Listed pot again with last year's winner, who is 3lb higher 12 months on.

The trainer, who also runs Born Survivor after he was declared a late non-runner in the Topham last week, said: "We've been kind of looking at this race all year with Value At Risk because he won it last year.

"He's gone okay through the winter, he has some reasonable bits of form and won a race at Market Rasen.

"Born Survivor didn't run at Aintree, the ground just got a bit soft. We've been keeping him for the spring, he's in good form.

"It's very competitive, but I hope both of them have an each-way chance."

Nicky Henderson saddles topweight Gold Present and stablemate River Wylde, who has yet to complete this season, while in the colours of the Queen, Forth Bridge bids to build on an emphatic first win over fences in the Silver Bowl at Kempton last month.

Monbeg River took a heavy fall in this race last year, but he gets a second chance for Martin Todhunter, who won the race with Tell Henry (2009) and Presenting Junior (2015).

Gosden hoping to blood more stars at Newbury

The Friday of Newbury's first Flat meeting has proved fertile ground for John Gosden to showcase a superstar from his powerful stable.

St Leger second Lah Ti Dar debuted in the 1m2f fillies' maiden last year, but it is the conditions race over the same trip (4.10) which has seen Gosden blood plenty of future Group winners in recent seasons, including Western Hymn, Star Of Seville, Shutter Speed and dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable, who suffered her only defeat in the race.

This time around the trainer relies on Dante entry Turgenev. Gosden said: “He has to carry a penalty but has been working nicely this spring and this trip looks suitable for him for now. He should handle the ground and this will tell us where we are trip wise for the future.”

Hedger dreaming of repeat success

As a nine-year-old he is the elder statesman of the field, but Medburn Cutler will bid to deny his more youthful rivals and win the 2m2f handicap at Newbury for the second consecutive year (3.05).

The stayer, owned by Eddie Evans, won by a neck from the re-opposing Coeur De Lion last year and is 2lb higher this time, but his trainer Peter Hedger is hopeful of another bold showing in Berkshire.

He said: "He's in good form, he won't want the ground to dry out too much. You're always worried when Charlie Appleby's got one in the race, but other than that he's got a nice weight.

Medburn Cutler (far side) defeated Coeur De Lion by a neck in this race last yearCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"Silvestre [de Sousa] has won on him before in the past. He's in good form, he came in around Christmas and we've gone along steadily with him.

"He's done a fair bit, I wouldn't expect him to be much fitter than he is for one of mine first time out."

Appleby's lighty raced contender Festival Of Ages is likely to pose a big threat after some solid efforts on the all-weather over the winter, while Cesarewitch fourth Vis A Vis, The Cashel Man and the Alan King-trained duo Who Dares Wins and Coeur De Lion are also part of the eight-runner field.

Murray out to make up for lost time

There was a time when Adrian Murray held high hopes for Killaro Boy. The trainer was just about to give up on that dream after Killaro Boy, along with so many others in his stable, went on long losing runs. However, the signs are there that the wheel is beginning to turn.

Murray explained: "The horses just weren't right for the last year or so. They looked fine, were training well, but they just weren't seeing out their races. I've never had as nice a bunch of horses so it was really frustrating."

Killaro Boy: looks to return to form for Adrian MurrayCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

A winner at Gowran Park on Tuesday suggests that Murray's string have weathered the storm and, having run below themselves, are perhaps that bit better off at their respective weights had they been running to form throughout the past year or so.

"You'd be hoping that's the case, there has to be some kind of an upside to it all," Murray said.

Killaro Boy could be one of those well-handicapped horses. Once thought of as an Irish Grand National type, he returns to the smaller obstacles for the BetVictor Handicap Hurdle (6.30) for which he's rated 15lb lower than he is over fences.

Murray, keeping on eye on Fairyhouse for his stable star, added: "He might need it at Ballinrobe but we're looking forward to getting him out. He's a hard horse to keep right these days but, if this goes well, there's a consolation race for horses who don't get into the Irish National at Fairyhouse that we have in the back of our minds for him."

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