Tom Malone hopeful progressive recruit can outlast ageing star

Tom Malone is hoping a short spell in the point-to-point sphere has put The Last But One in position to secure a valuable prize in the 2m6½f Leicestershire Open Hunters' Chase (3.00) at Leicester with Will Biddick on board.

The first prize of £9,712 is one of the best hunter chase pots of the season and has helped to attract a talented, but small, field. The race is worth a total of £16,000 and is easily the most valuable prize across four meetings in Britain on Tuesday.

The seven-year-old was previously trained by Paul Nicholls and carved out a consistent career while at Ditcheat, scoring four victories across his 16 starts.

Malone said on Monday: "It's the right race for him and it's some of the best prize-money you'll find in any hunter chase this season outside of the big festivals.

"I put him in as an entry thinking that the trip is spot on for us and the ground is very much in his favour. On all known form he has one horse to beat tomorrow, who is 11, and probably hasn't run near his mark in the last few starts."

That horse is 2017 Thyestes winner Champagne West, who makes his first start for new trainer TM Frost after a form line of 94/53P7-95 led to his sale and subsequent move from the Henry de Bromhead yard.

Champagne West won the Thyestes at Gowran Park in 2017Credit: Caroline Norris

"The reality is if Champagne West runs close to his mark we'll find it tricky," said Malone. "But if he doesn't we have a happy, healthy horse who will gallop all the way to line, without doubt."

Johnston on fire

Mark Johnston is in the midst of what has been a bumper period for his team on the all-weather and three-year-old Bay Of Naples looks poised to be the next horse to benefit from the hot streak.

After showing understandable greenness on his first start at Newcastle last month, the son of Exceed And Excel outran odds of 14-1 to claim victory at Lingfield next time and now attempts to repeat that feat at Wolverhampton (5.30).

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: "He took a big step forward from first time out to second time out as we hoped he would with the experience under his belt.

"He may have been a little bit fortunate to get the best of a photo that day at Lingfield, but I don't think this looks too deep a race and, despite a penalty, hopefully he can continue the upward curve and go close again."

Mark Johnson has a 42 per cent strike-rate over the past fortnightCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Johnston has enjoyed eight winners in the past fortnight and, with things very much clicking at Middleham stables, the mood is upbeat.

"It's a fairly small team we've kept going through the winter but it's been going well of late – we had a treble on Wednesday and a double on Friday," Johnston added.

"We have good chances coming up over the next few days and look to have a nice team to point towards All-Weather Finals Day."

Talented hurdler makes second chase start

After making an excellent first chase start at Ludlow this month, Louis' Vac Pouch will look to back up that performance in the 2m3f novice chase at Catterick (3.20) on his second start for trainer Henry Oliver.

The seven-year-old, who ran at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree's Grand National meeting over hurdles last season, defeated the talented Style De Garde at Ludlow, taking to the chasing sphere with aplomb.

"We were really delighted with him at Ludlow. He jumped superbly and has come back in great order," said Oliver. "We started over the minimum trip because he'd had a bit of time off and there was a danger he might run a bit gassy and fresh."

When pressed about whether the horse could match the quality shown over hurdles now faced with fences, Oliver's response was unequivocal.

"Absolutely," he said. "He's a very, very nice horse. I'm fortunate to have one like him in the yard.

"We're going to keep his schedule fairly low key for the time being. He won't be going to Cheltenham but there are a few options later on. We'll look at Ayr or even Punchestown should everything go to plan."

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