In the Otter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (3.00) at Leicester on Wednesday, April Dusk won a maiden point-to-point over 3 miles at Ballybunion last May and got off the mark over regulation fences at the first time of asking over 2 miles 4 furlongs at Uttoxeter in December. Unsurprisingly, being by Turtle Island out of a Zaffaran mare, Warren Greatrex’s 7-year-old likes soft going and is blessed with an abundance of stamina, so shouldn’t be inconvenienced by an extra two or three furlongs, even on a testing track like Leicester.
Topweight Lessons In Milan also won between the flags in Ireland as a 5-year-old and looks the pick of the opposition. However, Nicky Henderson’s 8-year-old makes his debut over regulation fences after an absence of 334 days and faces a stiff task conceding 9lb to the progressive April Dusk. Warren Greatrex is 0-3 at Leicester during the last five seasons, but that shouldn’t count against April Dusk, who otherwise looks a decent bet to complete a hat-trick.
Selection: Leicester 3.00 April Dusk to win