I think given these circumstances that he will be well tuned up for this race. He was beaten on his reappearance but the stable were not too disappointed with that defeat insisting that the race would have brought him on for this event.
Beef or Salmon rates the main danger on official ratings, however, I am never sure which Beef or Salmon we are going to see these days. Ollie Magern, the recent Charlie Hall winner at Wetherby looks like an improver but I can’t see him overturning Kicking King at any time this season.
The 2.50 at Haydock is an intriguing handicap hurdle featuring the first and second in last year’s Triumph Hurdle, Penzance and Faasel along with the Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Admiral.
I actually felt that Faasel was unlucky not to win the Triumph and I believe he can gain his revenge here. I think that they both might prove a little too strong for Admiral.
Lingfield stages a £40,000 listed race over 1mile 2 furlongs at 3.15. Compton Bolter is the one to be interested in here. He has shown a strong liking for course and distance in the past and he can regain the winning thread here. Boule d’Or , Lord Mayor, Kandidate and Moayed should fight it out for second.
Aintree race on Sunday featuring the Beecher Chase over the National fences. Forest Gunner has a super record over these fences and he is worth following here. Two who could go well against him are Direct Access and Artic Jack who ran well in the cross country event at Cheltenham.
SELECTIONS
SAT HAYDOCK 2.20 KICKING KING
SAT HAYDOCK 2.50 FAASEL
SAT LINGFIELD 3.15 COMPTON BOLTER
SUN AINTREE 2.50 FOREST GUNNER