Cheltenham preview (13.50): Sego can storm to Success
Published:
David Metcalf | November 13, 2015
Sego Success shaped well on his seasonal reappearance and can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land 3m 3f Murphy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (13.50).
The Alan King trained gelding came good at the second time of asking last season when showing a good attitude to get the better of If In Doubt at by 1/2 lengths.
Sego Success then had little difficulty defying a 9lb hike in the weights to follow-up in good style over 3m at Warwick when beating Grand Vision by 2 1/2 lengths off a mark of 137.
Sego Success set for shorter trip
The seven-year-old was sent off a heavily-backed 9/2 second favourite for the 4m National Hunt Chase here at the Festival on the back of that victory, and posted a solid effort to finish fifth of 17 to Cause Of Causes off a rating of 143.
Although eventually beaten 18 1/2 lengths, Sego Success ran far better than that indicates as he travelled strongly for much of the contest before making a bad mistake two from home and weakening late on.
The son of Beneficial is now able to race in this off 4lb lower, and that makes him look well-treated on the pick of his form now dropped back to a more suitable trip.
Sego Success also comes into the context have run very well to finish fifth of 13 subsequent Badger Ales Trophy winner Drop Out Joe at Chepstow last month when looking in need of the outing, and that should have blow away the cobwebs and put him spot on for this.
Keep an eye on Audacious Plan and Upswing
Audacious Plan and Upswing head my list of possible dangers to Sego Success. The former is trained by Rebecca Curtis and has shaped well in two starts this season without being given a hard time.
In the last of those over 3m 1f of those at this venue, the six-year-old held every chance at the last before weakening close home to finish a 2 1/2 length fourth of 12 to What’s Happening.
It was an effort which suggested Audacious Plan was on a handy mark at present, and the step up in trip may well bring about further improvement.
Upswing hails from the powerful yard of Jonjo O’Neill and opened his account over the larger obstacles at the third time of asking when scoring by six lengths at Worcester last month.
The assessor has put Upswing up 8lb to 136 for that easy success, but that looks exploitable on the pick of his hurdling form and he remains unexposed over fences.
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