SUNDAY SELECTIONS:
CARLISLE: 2.30 Colour Clash, 3.00 Logans Run, 3.35 ERNST BLOFELD (NAP), 4.10 Wave Power, 4.45 Our Jim, 5.15 Empire Builder.
CORK: 2.25 Elusive Moon, 2.55 Siberian Tiger, 3.30 Total Excitement, 4.05 Lucky At Last, 4.40 Cool Quest, 5.10 Golden Moon, 5.40 Dont Panic.
CURRAGH: 2.15 Emperor Hadrian, 2.45 Just Rio, 3.20 Zaralanta, 3.55 Devoted To You, 4.30 Satu, 5.00 Hen Night, 5.30 Encompassing.
FONTWELL: 2.10 Sophies Trophy, 2.40 Prince Taime, 3.10 Deep Waters, 3.45 Kappelhoff, 4.20 Comprimario, 4.55 King Diamond, 5.25 Kerasoun.
NEWTON ABBOT: 2.20 Rayon Vert, 2.50 Massini Sunset, 3.25 Pull The Wool, 4.00 Song Sung Blue, 4.35 Royal Prodigy, 5.05 Tres Bien.
DOUBLE: Ernst Blofeld and Song Sung Blue.
Following a truly memorable week of action, there is a bit of a hangover feeling about Sunday's racing.
While there is quantity, the quality element is a little lacking on the whole but punters have been truly spoiled over the last few days with the Cheltenham Festival.
Donald McCain enjoyed a couple of winners at Prestbury Park and while Ernst Blofeld is not as talented as some of his stablemates, he should be good enough in the News & Star Novices' Chase at Carlisle.
The six-year-old let down favourite backers on his chasing bow at Uttoxeter last November but made amends when striking at that track the following month.
A step up in class at Cheltenham in January yielded little joy as McCain's charge took a heavy fall and while he ran well enough at Haydock subsequently, his jumping was merely adequate.
This is hardly the most competitive race, though, and it would be a surprise if Ernst Blofeld could not make a good fist of it with the yard on a high.
Song Sung Blue can strike for trainer Colin Tizzard - another in the winners at Cheltenham - in the Winning Post Restaurant Novices' Chase at Newton Abbot.
The seven-year-old has been a consistent performer so far, finishing out of the first five only once in 11 career starts.
After having another crack at hurdles earlier in the year, Tizzard switched him to fences in January and the decision quickly bore fruit as Song Sung Blue was a winner on his fencing bow.
He was not beaten far on good ground last time but the slight ease at Newton Abbot should suit him much better and he is evidently a horse that is still improving.
Comprimario did not enjoy the best of luck at Sandown last time but can gain compensation by returning to form at Fontwell.
The four-year-old is evidently not among trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' leading lights but managed a win on his second attempt at hurdling at this venue last December.
That form was not the strongest as the long odds-on favourite tipped up that day and Comprimario could probably be counted as a fortunate winner.
However, he can only beat what was put in front of him and while he was pulled up at Sandown, he had run well enough before beginning to fade and being hampered badly.
The winner that day, Qaspal, has since gone on to Imperial Cup glory and it is unlikely any of Comprimario's rivals in the Colin "Derby" Rose/John Ireland Memorial Handicap Hurdle are as good as that.
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