Is there a Mrs Milner lurking? Festival clues on offer again for Listed contest

Saturday: 2.50 CheltenhamPaddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle (Listed) | 3m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Pertemps Final heroine Mrs Milner finished second in this 12 months ago before going on to win at the festival in March, and many of these will have the Cheltenham handicap as a target for later in the season.

Kansas City Chief is already qualified for the final after winning at the course last month, when he gave rider Victoria Malzard her first British win, and, while the 12-year-old was a 20-1 outsider, there does not look any fluke about the result.

The Neil Mulholland-trained veteran dominated that race from a long way out and kept on strongly to win by three lengths, so can he shrug off a 5lb rise here?

There will be some glum faces on connections of the more unexposed stayers in the line-up if he can and likely favourite Proschema heads those who might not have shown their hand yet.

Proschema bettered his highest Racing Post Rating by 10lb when chasing home Indefatigable in a Grade 2 at Wetherby last time, but the BHA handicapper was less impressed and put him up only 3lb. It will be interesting to see who is right now Proschema is returned to a handicap.

Valentino Dancer is completely unexposed over this far. He steps up a mile in trip after finishing second at Chepstow last time, and it doesn't look certain to suit him on pedigree.

However, Valentino Dancer isn't bred to stay two miles and he does, so it may not pay to read too much into the fact that he is Flat-bred, with half-siblings who went no further than a mile.

Ian Williams and owners The Dttw Partnership won this race with First Assignment in 2018, and Dragon Bones represents the same connections. First Assignment won a handicap hurdle at the October meeting here before his success, and Dragon Bones also competed at that fixture.

The six-year-old was beaten a length by Bardenstown Lad that day, but was ten lengths clear of Onagatheringstorm, who also runs here. Onagatheringstorm is effectively 6lb better off this time.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Chief targeting more joy for Jersey

Neil Mulholland hopes the fairytale story between the evergreen veteran Kansas City Chief and amateur jockey Victoria Malzard can produce another special outcome at the track following their victory at the Showcase meeting last month.

The 12-year-old caused a 20-1 shock over course and distance and was a first success in Britain for the Jersey-born Malzard, which inspired emotional scenes in the winner's enclosure as her mother, a 15-time champion trainer in Jersey, part-owns the horse under the Jersey Racing Friends banner.

Kansas City Chief (blue cap) aims to make it back-to-back victories at Cheltenham under Victoria MalzardCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

While he faces a formidable opponent in Grade 1-winning chaser Sporting John, Mulholland is confident Kansas City Chief can put up another bold showing at Prestbury Park.

The trainer said: "It's a fantastic story with Vic riding the horse for her mother and father and that being her first winner in England, especially for it to come at such a special place like Cheltenham and him being a 12-year-old.

"He loves Cheltenham and we're really looking forward to taking him back there. He should run well."

What they say

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Sporting John
We've been unable to find a suitable chase for him so this looks a good starting point over hurdles. He's very well.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Shannon Bridge and Proschema
Shannon Bridge I feel wants slower ground, but there are not that many races to run him in and his owner's a big fan of Cheltenham.
But I do think he's a horse who takes a few runs to get going. This looks absolutely perfect on paper for Proschema and he’s got some Graded form to bring forward. He looks fresh and well at home and from what I can see he's in good shape.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Ballymillsy
He's very good and I hope he has improved again from last time. He should run well. I don't think the good ground will do his chances any harm either.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Optimise Prime
He wasn't up to it in the Ballymore, but he wasn't right either. He's trained well without any blips since and has been in good form. Three miles will be ideal for him and hopefully he'll be there or thereabouts. It's a competitive race, but he shouldn't be too far away.

James Nash, trainer of Scheu Time
We've stepped him up in trip in the hope of finding some improvement. He ran well at Gowran last time. It's a strong race but he'll appreciate the ground and has a nice weight.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

Saturday's race previews:

12.00 Punchestown: all eyes on exciting Bob Olinger as Ballymore winner makes chase debut

12.30 Cheltenham: is Magistrato Paul Nicholls' next juvenile star? Graeme Rodway gives his view

12.38 Punchestown: Arkle clues on offer as Cape Gentleman bids to maintain unbeaten chase record

1.40 Cheltenham: 'I don't have him in the Arkle picture' – just how good is Third Time Lucki?

2.15 Cheltenham: 'I couldn't be happier with him' – key trainer quotes for the Paddy Power

3.25 Cheltenham: Murphy and Skelton hotpots all the rage but dangers lurk in tough handicap

3.40 Lingfield: how do Group 1 winners fare on the all-weather? Here's the definitive answer

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