Global can Power to Classic Chase glory

Trainer Oliver Sherwood is enjoying a good season and Global Power holds leading claims of providing him with another big race success in the Classic Chase at Warwick today (3.35).
The nine-year-old is a dour stayer who has posted solid efforts to finish runner-up in both his starts this season.

In the first of those at Carlisle, Global Power looked in need of the run after 364 days on the sidelines and kept on nicely to be beaten seven lengths by Ballyoliver without being unduly knocked about.

The son of Subtle Power duly built on that effort last time out at Fontwell when going down by just a neck to Theatrical Star, with the pair pulling 29 lengths clear of the third home Fruity Roonet who is a useful yardstick.

Although raised 2lb for that effort to 128, Global Power is just 5lb higher than when last successful and looks the type who could have more to offer.

The testing conditions will certainly hold no fears, and this stamina sapping contest should be right up his street.

Shotgun Paddy disappointed when pulled-up on seasonal reappearance at Chepstow, but would be a big danger if bouncing back to his best.

The Emma Lavell trained gelding stormed to a six length victory over Carruthers in this 12 months ago and is now running off just 2lb higher.

That makes the eight-year-old’s current mark of 149 look explotable, especially considering he finished a fine second off 2lb higher in last year’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Another in with a big shout in a wide open affair is the Philip Hobbs trained Return To Spring.

The eight-year-old has only had three starts over fences, and came good at the second time of asking when digging deep to beat the well-regarded Highland Retreat by a neck in a 3m novice chase at Exeter run in very testing conditions.

The winner has gone on to score twice since to give the form a solid look, and Return To Spring was also far from disgraced last time out when third to RSA favourite Kings Palace at Cheltenham.

An opening mark of 142 looks very fair, especially given that Return To Spring remains unexposed and open to plenty of progress over fences, and with Richard Johnson in the saddle he is unlikely to be far away at the business end of affairs.