CHARIOT Charger slipped up at Taunton last month but can make amends in the Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Beginners’ Chase at Fontwell.
A classy novice hurdler for Emma Lavelle last season, the six-year-old made a good start over fences when beaten just half a length by Bensalem at Plumpton.
He was going well enough next time up at Taunton only to hit the 10th fence, although he recovered from that error, before crashing out three from home.
Chariot Charger was back in third when he came unstuck but if Lavelle has ironed out his fencing issues, he should go better here.
Howard Johnson has his horses firing on all cylinders and he can notch another couple of winners at Newcastle.
Washington Irving was good enough to finish fifth in the Derby a couple of years ago for Aidan O’Brien and he is the class act in the svrutter.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.
Owners Andrea and Graham Wylie paid 300,000 guineas for the five-year-old at the end of 2008 and a couple of runs on the level last summer failed to see him sparkle.
However, he was a different proposition when switched to hurdles at Carlisle last November, pulling 15 lengths clear and turning in a neat display of jumping.
Washington Irving also showed he can handle heavy ground that day and with conditions set to be testing again here, he is hard to oppose.
Johnson and the Wylies can also strike gold with Door Boy in the Rely On Rutters Builders Novices’ Chase.
The seven-year-old proved a bit of a disappointment over hurdles last season but looked much better when winning at Aintree on his first start over fences last October.
Penchesco catches the eye as he makes his National Hunt bow for new trainer Amanda Perrett in Lingfield’s Marriott Play & Stay Maiden Hurdle.
Wolverhampton host the allweather action and Monsieur Fillioux can get James Fanshawe off the mark for 2010 in the Bet In Running - Betdaq Handicap.
The four-year-old will be having just his fifth career start.
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