Can National-winning trainer gain further success in Wales? Punting pointers for Sunday's action

Cagnes-sur-Mer

Keiran Burke ended last year with Graded success and he bids to immediately kick off 2025 with more big-race glory, this time on the shores of the south of France.

Burke upset some bigger yards when he landed the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase with current stable star Soul Icon, with his other notable success coming at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival with the popular Hunt Ball.

The Dorset-based trainer now has a big runner in the French Riviera with What Path, who contests the Grade 3 Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice - Bernard Secly Chase (2.32), the climax to the winter jumps meeting at Cagnes. 

The eight-year-old comes here off the back of finishing a distant third in the Berkshire National at Ascot in November, though the winner that day, Beauport, has since franked the form when finishing third in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle.

Formerly with Willie Mullins, What Path will be having just his third chase start for Burke and will be the ride of Nathanael Ferreira, who was recommended to Burke by Felix de Giles.

Keiran Burke: bids for Grade 3 success at Cagnes-sur-Mer with What PathCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I think the ground and the trip will suit him and I hope the track will as well, while the prize-money is appealing so we feel it's worth a go," said Burke, who travelled with the horse down to the track which sits just on the outskirts of Nice. 

"There's not much for him at home and touch wood he's a decent jumper. It's something we wanted to explore so we'll dip our toe in the water to see if we want to come back a bit more."

Leading the home defence is Le Roi David, who represents last year's winning trainer Mickael Seror and is the reason De Giles is not available to ride for Burke. 

"He's a horse who took a while to understand what was required of him, but he can now he knows his job and really takes his racing well," said Seror. "It's the end of the meeting so of course the track is somewhat cut up, but the most important thing for him is that it isn't really deep ground and I think he's a horse who could do well back in Paris when when it's not too wet."

Seror enjoyed a fine start to the meeting, saddling seven winners from 40 starters over the course of five fixtures, but his Cagnes squad's form has been patchy since, with Le Roi David's victory in the Listed prep race for this prize on Christmas Eve the only winner from 21 starters.

What Path14:32 Cagnes-Sur-Mer

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Jky: Nathanael Ferreira Tnr: Keiran Burke

Chepstow

Mel Rowley enjoyed the greatest success of her training career with Val Dancer in the Welsh Grand National and she has the chance to land the feature 2m7½f novice handicap chase (1.45) named in the eight-year-old's honour.

The Shropshire-based trainer is still basking in the glory of her stable star's success in Wales's biggest race, and she saddles Mahland in the Congratulations 2024 WGN Winner Val Dancer Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, who will be ridden by Charlie Deutsch.

The seven-year-old was a winner over hurdles on his penultimate run at Ffos Las in April, but must bounce back from a disappointing reappearance at Bangor last month when seventh of nine to Cheltenham's New Year's Day winner Strackan.

"He's very well and needs a run," Rowley said. "He likes soft ground and there's no reason why he shouldn't run well."

Mahland was a point-to-point winner for Rowley's husband Philip at Chaddesley Corbett in April 2023 and will make his chase debut under rules in Sunday's contest.

His trainer is hopeful he can improve on his handicap hurdle mark of 121 by switching to the larger obstacles, with many of his sire Mahler's progeny taking to the discipline well.

"He's never been the quickest and I think with a fence in front of him it will play to his strengths," she said. "He's schooled really well at home and has never given us any indication it isn't the right thing to do."

His four rivals include the Dan Skelton-trained Illico De Cotte, who won impressively over fences at Carlisle in October before finishing a strong third to the subsequent Lincolnshire National winner O'Connell at the same track last month.

Livin On Luco will find this easier than the assignment he was set at Cheltenham last time, while Ballybentragh beat three subsequent winners when eighth in a red-hot running of the Gerry Feilden at Newbury in November.

Mahland13:45 Chepstow

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Jky: Charlie Deutsch Tnr: Mel Rowley

Chepstow: Sam the man with novice hurdlers

Backing Sam Thomas-trained novice hurdlers at the track in the last five seasons has yielded a £28.40 profit from a £1 level-stake bet. His horse who fits that criteria is C'Est Different (12.45).

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