King George hero runs in hunter chase for new stable and Lincoln Trial winner defends title - Saturday's punting pointers

Punting pointers for some of Saturday's meetings…

Ayr stat: unbeaten record 

Apologise is 2-2 since joining trainer Gary McGill and the £1,000 purchase bids to complete a hat-trick in the 2m handicap hurdle (3.25).

Apologise15:25 Ayr

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Jky: Mr O McGill (5lb)Tnr: Gary McGill

Ayr: trainer targets feature race again

Nick Alexander won the feature 2m4½f handicap chase (4.00) last season with Dubai Days and the trainer is responsible for two of the five runners in the £20,000 contest.

Bottomweight Artic Row is bidding to win at this two-day meeting for the third successive year. Henry Brooke's mount has won four races at the track, three of which were over this distance, although he is rated 8lb higher than for his last course victory.

Artic Row: one of two runners for Nick AlexanderCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Ned Tanner won a handicap hurdle at this meeting in 2022 and has finished second on his last two starts after beating subsequent winners The Flier Begley and Classic Maestro at Haydock in December.

Alexander said: "Ned Tanner and Artic Row seem to be in really good form and it's hard to split the pair. Ned Tanner has gone really well in his last couple of starts, while Artic Row just happened to bump into one [Walk On Quest] last time at the track.

"It's a small field but it's a competitive handicap, so fourth and fifth could be just as possible as first and second. I'm happy with both of them, so it's a nice position to be in."

Chelmsford: Scudamore has first ride for Hannon

Margot Scudamore, daughter of former jump jockey Tom, has her first ride for Richard Hannon in the 1m2f handicap for amateur riders (5.25). Scudamore has had nine rides for Lucinda Russell, who is assisted by the jockey's grandfather Peter Scudamore, while her sole winner under rules came for Ben Brookhouse.

Scudamore's father rode Western Warhorse to win the 2014 Arkle for Brookhouse's father Roger, so the family ties have been clear with the 18-year-old's rides to date. The teenager has also ridden for Ben Brookhouse's Newmarket counterpart John Berry, but she now has the opportunity to impress multiple Classic-winning trainer Hannon on Major Major.

The son of Iffraaj has been upped 3lb for winning over this trip at Lingfield under Sean Levey in January and is one of two last-time-out winners in the eight-runner line-up along with Harry The Haggler.

Major Major17:25 Chelmsford (A.W)

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Jky: Miss Margot Scudamore (5lb)Tnr: Richard Hannon

Gowran stat: solid claims

Claimers have won five of the last eight runnings of the feature 2m handicap chase (4.25) including John Shinnick, who bids to record back-to-back successes on Whiskeywealth in the €45,000 contest.

Whiskeywealth16:25 Gowran Park

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Jky: John Shinnick (5lb)Tnr: Terence O'Brien

Gowran: King George hero in action

Tornado Flyer, who was sent off a 9-1 chance for the Gold Cup three years ago, runs the week before the Cheltenham Festival in the historic Tetratema Hunters Chase (5.00).

The 2021 King George hero, now aged 12, has been winless in six starts since his nine-length triumph over Clan Des Obeaux at Kempton and has left the care of Willie Mullins to join Paul Hennessy.

Tornado Flyer: runs in the hunter chaseCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The veteran is still owned by the T F P Partnership but the stable switch came after he finished fourth in an Oldtown point-to-point last month, having been pulled up when 5-4 favourite for a five-runner race at Aghabullogue on his first start for 787 days in January.

Charlie Mullins partnered the son of Flemensfirth in both of those races and keeps the ride here in a race where his cousin Patrick rides last year’s winner Annamix.

Hereford: strong form

Hypotenus ran in the 2023 Triumph Hurdle when trained by John McConnell and won a Gowran Park maiden hurdle on his stable debut for Gavin Cromwell, but the six-year-old is now in the care of Joe Tickle.

The son of Lope De Vega was a 50-1 third on his first start for Tickle in January and that Sandown race has worked out well with the winner, Vincenzo, finishing second off a 5lb higher mark in the Greatwood Gold Cup on his next start, while runner-up Doyen Du Bar went one better on his next outing.

Hypotenus filled the same third-placed position at Sandown again last time and has been dropped 2lb before Hereford's feature 2m handicap chase (2.05). Last-time-out winner Western General and two-time course winner Famoso are among Hypotenus's four rivals.

Williethebuilder beat subsequent Morebattle Hurdle runner-up Alnilam in November and is an interesting chasing debutant.

Wolverhampton: Lincoln Trial winner defends crown

Kingdom Come justified 11-4 favouritism in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap (2.45) last year and the Clive Cox-trained six-year-old attempts to defend his crown in the opening £50,000 contest.

Kingdom Come is rated 2lb higher than last year's victory under Rossa Ryan, who rides again here. Cox said: "He's in excellent form and we know he loves the surface and track from last year.

"He's had a bit of a break in between his last run and here to have him nice and fresh. He's worse off this time but I think he's in a similar shape and it will be evened up by a good draw and a little bit of luck in running."

Kingdom Come's opposition includes the hat-trick-seeking Great Chieftain and Symbol Of Light, who has won both of his starts over course and distance and scored by nearly four lengths at Southwell last month.

Whip Cracker made the frame in a couple of Listed races last season, including when chasing home subsequent Group 3 Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe and he makes his first start of the year. The Richard Hughes-trained four-year-old won his only previous all-weather start by six lengths.

Kingdom Come14:45 Wolverhampton (A.W)

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Jky: Rossa Ryan Tnr: Clive Cox

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