THORN AGAIN

Silver to strike gold for in-form Lavelle

- Mark Winstanley

IT was 2003 when Emma Lavelle captured the European Breeders' Fund Novices' Handicap Hurdle run over two and a half miles at Sandown Park with Tana River, but I'm hoping she can repeat the trick with SILVER THORN (1.50).

The assessor has given him a perch of 118 for his initial crack in this company and his stable have had three winners from their last nine runners.

With a tongue-tie fitted for the first time, the creature must be backed each-way at odds around the 20-1 mark. Get the ammo ready for an all-out assault on the bookies at Cheltenham.

The very shrewd Dan Skelton has decided to run WILLIETHEBUILDER (2.05) in the Dragonbet Handicap Chase run over two miles at Hereford off a mark of 128.

This will be the first time the horse has run over fences and as he snared a handicap hurdle off a ledge of 125 at Wetherby in November, he looks well treated. With the very capable Tristan Durrell taking off 3lb, the pot looks a lot sweeter.