Racing commentator Simon Holt thinks Topofthegame's reserves of stamina will prove vital when he goes to post at Sandown on Saturday.
Simon Holt's best bets
TOPOFTHEGAME, a horse with a great deal of scope for improvement, is fancied to relish a step up to nearly three miles in the Betfred Heroes Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
A faller on his chase debut earlier this season, the Paul Nicholls-trained Irish point-to-point winner was switched back to hurdles at Kempton last month over two-miles-and-five-furlongs and, having looked in top gear from some way out, kept on gamely to finish fourth behind William Henry in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
That looked a decent effort in one of the hottest handicaps of the season so far and this huge horse gave every indication that a stiffer test of stamina is needed which this extra yardage and course will provide.
It is worth noting that, in his point win, the 142-rated Topofthegame readily accounted for both No Hassle Hoff (now 140) and Brave Eagle (136) who have done well for themselves since.
Staying power will be important here, especially as the hurdles course at Sandown invariably rides softer than the chase course, but there aren’t too many in the field who are guaranteed to see the race out.
The two proven stayers who may provide the biggest threat to the selection are Flemcara, who completed a three-timer over a similar trip in heavy ground at Chepstow last time (but now up 9lb), and Taj Badalandabad who bounced back to form at Huntingdon for which he has been raised 8lb.
Later on, FINAL NUDGE looks to have strong claims in the Betfred Mobile Masters Handicap Chase following his decent third behind Raz De Maree in the Welsh Grand National last time.
Nothing was going better turning for home at Chepstow that day, but the nine-year-old came under pressure after the third last and didn’t seem to get home as well as might have been expected.
Earlier, Final Nudge had made a fine reappearance when narrowly beaten by Present Man over three-miles-and-a-furlong at Wincanton and, last season, was travelling strongly in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter until falling four out.