'Still improving' Hitman bids to get Paul Nicholls back on track in Game Spirit

Saturday: 3.00 Newbury
Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) | 2m½f| 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

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Favourites have landed eight of the last ten runnings of the Game Spirit Chase, but bookmakers have contrasting opinions on who should head the betting this season.

Three horses are separated by barely half a point at the time of writing, and even the outsider of the four-runner contest, Sky Pirate, is not without a chance.

The absence of Editeur Du Gite creates a pace puzzle. Gary Moore's perennial front-runner has been withdrawn and perhaps Hitman will set the fractions instead.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old has led in the past, stays further and rates the type to be best suited by a thorough test of stamina against three genuine two-milers.

Last year's winner Sceau Royal bids to retain his crown, but conceding 6lb to two progressive second-season chasers in Hitman and Funambule Sivola may prove beyond him.

Funambule Sivola got within three and a quarter lengths of Shishkin in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree last April and connections have tried to transform him into a two-and-a-half-miler this winter.

The experiment didn't pay off, though, and Funambule Sivola relished the return to 2m½f at Doncaster 15 days ago to exploit a decent handicap mark of 152. He still has a bit to find off an official rating of 154 in this company, but gives the impression the best is yet to come.

Sky Pirate looks sure to run his race. He has recorded a Racing Post Rating of 161 on each of his four starts this season and his seven-length second to the fast-improving Brave Seasca last time (conceding 20lb) was a fine effort.

If Brave Seasca topples Edwardstone and Third Time Lucki in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase earlier in the day that instantly makes Sky Pirate a more appealing betting proposition, so keep an eye on the Grade 2 at Warwick (2.05).
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'This is a stepping stone to working out where we go next'

The last time we saw Hitman he was finishing second in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek as a five-year-old.

Hitman arguably travelled into the second-last that day going better than winner and stablemate Greaneteen, but an iffy jump cost him several lengths and he could not recover.

The other factor of course is his trainer's form. Paul Nicholls has had just one winner from 37 runners in the last fortnight. Greaneteen, so impressive at Sandown, was thumped out of sight at Leopardstown last weekend – finishing last, some 74 lengths behind a rejuvenated Chacun Pour Soi.

So what should be expected of Hitman? If you listen to his trainer, quite a lot.

"He ran a cracker in the Haldon Gold Cup and then the Tingle Creek. He's improved from race to race and is still improving," Nicholls said yesterday. "Two miles may be as sharp as he wants to go now, he probably gets a bit further.

"This is a stepping stone to working out where we go next – he's in the Champion Chase and Ryanair, and there's also the two-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree, though he could do both as he hasn't had a lot of racing. Tomorrow will tell us where we go as the Champion Chase looks very hot and, if he gets further, we could go for the Ryanair, but we'll know more after he's run."

What they say

Alan King, trainer of Sceau Royal
He's had a good break and I'm very happy with him. He's been good so far this season, the only disappointment is when the trainer messed up and ran him in the International, but apart from that he's been in great form. James [Bowen] rides him for the first time in public, but he schooled him this week and it all went very well. If there's any rain then the ground would be ideal for the old boy.

Sceau Royal: bidding to repeat last year's successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Charlie Deutsch, rider of Funambule Sivola
I think he'll like the course and ground, but there's not much in it between the four of us. He'll have to be at the top of his game, but I'm more than sure he's capable of it because he's very slick and is not slow either.

Nick Scholfield, rider of Sky Pirate
He's been consistent all year and has run some good races in defeat. He owes us nothing after winning the Grand Annual, the ground's in his favour and the flat track should be fine for him. He's not that far wrong on the ratings and there may only be four runners, but it wouldn't surprise if any of them won – it should be a good race.
Reporting by Stuart Riley

Saturday previews:

1.15 Newbury: will weight concession prove too much for leading festival fancy Bravemansgame?

2.05 Warwick: trainer views and insight for Kingmaker clash between Edwardstone and Third Time Lucki

2.25 Newbury: can Clan Des Obeaux shrug off the doubts with Denman Chase victory?

3.15 Warwick: 'He's working nicely and well capable' – analysis and quotes for tricky handicap

3.35 Newbury: key trainer quotes and analysis for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury

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