Honest Endeavour, on a high after winning his first two races this season, heads to Sedgefield tomorrow with excellent prospects of completing a hat-trick.
The European Breeders' Fund Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) is the target for the five-year-old, who is trained at Norton by Malcolm Jefferson.
A shock 40-1 winner at Hexham at the start of this month, Honest Endeavour proved that success was no fluke by following-up at Uttoxeter a fortnight ago, showing plenty of determination to gain a short-head victory over Oscars Vision and the odds-on Kimono Royal, who was the same margin back in third.
Honest Endeavour is improving with every race. Fergus King, now attached to the Jefferson yard, again has the mount.
King, who is good value for his 3lb allowance, can also win the SIS Arthur Stephenson Memorial Novices' Chase on Simlet, trained by Edwin Tuer.
A decent hurdler, who ran well over fences in the spring, Simlet should be fit enough for this resumption of his jumping career after a recent creditable effort on the Flat.
The second day of Cheltenham's two-day meeting is highlighted by the £20,000 Jewson Handicap Hurdle Final.
Norton trainer Brian Ellison makes a bold bid for this prize with Mister Arjay, a horse not without a fighting chance, but such is the all-conquering form of the Paul Nicholls stable at present that it is difficult to ignore the claims of Goblet Of Fire.
Well-weighted, with a recent run under his belt and with Ruby Walsh on board, Goblet Of Fire has plenty going for him and gets my Nap vote.
Martin Pipe runs Comply Or Die in the Ian Williams Owners Novices' Chase and this highly-rated charge is strongly fancied to win.
Tomorrow's Tips:
Sedgefield
1.50 Tender Touch, 2.25 Wee Willow, 3.00 Honest Endeavour, 3.35 Simlet, 4.10 Fantastico, 4.45 Native Eire, 5.20 Jonny's Kick.
Cheltenham
2.00 Lord Gale, 2.35 Mr Nemo, 3.10 Forever Dream, 3.45 Comply Or Die, 4.20 Goblet Of Fire (Nap), 4.55 Multeen River, 5.30 Golden Measure.
Tomorrow's other meeting is at Yarmouth.
Updated: 11:02 Tuesday, October 26, 2004
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