A PIECE of Cake is fancied to live up to his name by strolling to success in the opener at Chepstow for Mary Reveley.
Mary doesn't send too many horses on the long journey from the North-East to the South Wales track, so the inclusion of A Piece Of Cake (1.15) in the line-up for the Lanson Champagne Handicap Chase is bound to attract more than a passing interest among the local bookmakers.
And if I were in their shoes my odds would err on the side of caution because the Reveley raider possesses a formidable armoury, combining staying power with a pretty lethal turn of foot at the end of his races.
Last time out at Newcastle the nine-year-old grey gelding appeared to be completely cooked jumping the last fence, fully five lengths adrift of Ferdy Murphy's Luzcadou.
But jockey Alan Dempsey had other ideas and conjured up a magnificent response from A Piece Of Cake, who literally flew the final 100 yards to catch Luzcadou in the shadow of the winning post.
In the following San Miguel Novices' Handicap Hurdle, Jacdor (1.45) makes a swift reappearance having foiled 14-1 nap selection Wild Hadeer at Towcester on Thursday.
Wild Hadeer appeared home and hosed until Jacdor came with a withering late burst from the last flight to spoil the party.
Robin Dickin's rejuvenated eight-year-old is clearly in the rudest of health and it will not be a major shock if he does land a quick-fire double.
One of the disappointments to date of the Racing North ten-to-follow list has been What A Wonder, yet to get his head in front despite having had four bites of the cherry.
What A Wonder (4.05) has not been done any favours by the official handicapper, however I'm still hoping he can defy top-weight in the Erskine Handicap Chase at Ayr.
In the later Hugh Barclay Challenge Cup keep an eye out for track specialist Solsgirth (5.05).
Seeing Solsgirth soar over his fences is akin to watching poetry in motion, because what he lacks in basic speed, the spring-heeled 11-year-old more than makes up for in jumping ability.
Choisty's (3.45) enduring love affair with long-distance chases at Warwick appears all set to continue in the three-mile-five-furlong Crudwell Cup at the course.
Two years ago Choisty out-slogged Golden Drum to add the silverware to his trophy cabinet and although he hasn't prevailed since, the dour stayer signalled his turn was near when chasing home Macgeorge at the track last month.
Attache (3.35), engaged in the forthcoming randombet.com Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, opens his pipes after a long winter break in the extended one-mile Littlewoods-sponsored trial at Wolverhampton.
Considering Attache ran off a mark of 102 at York last August, he's now very fairly treated, having plummeted to 88 after a series of poor efforts.
He's also switched stables, from Mark Johnston to Lynda Ramsden, and the change of scenery could well have bucked his ideas up.
Lynda's husband, Jack, reported: "Attache has been gelded over the winter and seems in good form."
For the nap selection it is back to Sandown, where Intersky Falcon (2.45) may prove different gear to his opponents in the Grade 3 EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final.
Jonjo O'Neill's stable can do little wrong at present and this fellow, on the brink of a fantastic four-timer, has the class to jump and gallop the field into total submission
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