Top-rated Dodging Bullets could dodge Kingmaker Chase

After a large crowd turned out for last month’s Classic Chase Day, general manager Huw Williams will be hoping the rain holds off again for what promises to be another action-packed afternoon for the resurgent course.

The Kingmaker has been a key Cheltenham Festival trial and previous winners include Gold Cup victor Long Run and three Champion Chase heroes in Finian’s Rainbow, Voy Por Ustedes and Flagship Uberalles.

Top-rated entry this year is Dodging Bullets, a winner of his last three races, but also engaged in a race at Newbury.

He numbers the useful Grandouet and Raya Star among his victims, but Raya Star has a weight advantage here which should bring the two very close.

Balder Succes was an impressive course winner in November before disappointing at Sandown Park and Mr Mole also boasts form at the track.

The action begins at 1.35pm with the starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle over two miles, which has attracted a bumper 28 entries.

Course winner Dormouse is still 5lb higher in the handicap than when last successful at Taunton 15 months ago, whereas Santo Thomas remains on his winning mark of 107 and his trainer Venetia Williams is in red-hot form, having had four winners last Saturday and two more on Tuesday.

Next up is the OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) over two miles and five furlongs, one of three such races added to this year’s national jumps programme by the British Horseracing Authority, all of which carry a prize fund of £20,000.

Glens Melody was a first runner and winner at the course for Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins last month when just holding off the challenge of Mischievous Milly, with Hidden Identity a close third.

They set the standard again this time, although Une Artiste and L’Unique cannot be discounted.

The trip is three-and-a- quarter miles for the day’s longest race, the starsportsbet.co.uk Novices’ Chase, due off at 4.25pm and, with 14 entries, it looks like being a competitive affair.

Donald McCain is responsible for two of the entries in the shape of Beeves and Dungeel, the latter coming into the race on the back of an easy win at Catterick in a three-runner contest.

Alan King, whose stable is just getting back into full swing, has the promising Midnight Prayer, a winner at Stratford in October.

The two that stand out on the ratings are Sam Winner, a winner at Cheltenham last time out, and Shutthefrontdoor, who made mistakes when well behind in the same race.

Like Dungeel, both have an alternative engagement at Newbury, so it’s a question of waiting and seeing which are declared to run at Warwick.