Sir Psycho looks worth siding with at 11/8 with Betway to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with back-to-back successes in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday (14:40).
The Ditcheat handler saddled Quel Destin to land the spoils 12 months ago and, like that one, Sir Psycho carries the well-known green and red colours of owner Martin Broughton.
This four-year-old also has a similar profile at this stage of his career and won two of his four starts over the obstacles.
In the last of those at Exeter, Sir Psycho was very impressive when landing a 12-runner contest by 31 lengths from Bullionaire.
After tracking the leaders travelling strongly under 7lb claimer Bryan Carver, the son of Zoffany took up the running pulling double three from home.
Sir Psycho then stretched effortlessly clear without being asked any sort of question to win without breaking a sweat.
The way in which he disposed of a 136-rated rival, who had previously finished third to the hugely exciting Sporting John before bolting up by 15 lengths at Uttoxeter, was visually very taking and suggested he needed keeping firmly onside.
War Lord, who finished just under 11 lengths further behind in fourth, has also come out and won since to give the form a boost.
It has earned Sir Psycho an official rating of 134, the highest in this seven-runner Victor Ludorum line-up. He undoubtedly has the potential to go one to bigger and better things.
Sir Psycho also now gets the professional services of Bryony Frost in the saddle, has proven form on testing ground and hails from a yard operating at a strike rate of 25 per cent in the last fortnight at the time of writing.
The Worlds End looks a cut-above Rendlesham rivals
In the 3m Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle (14:05), The Worlds End looks capable of giving weight all-round to land a third success of the campaign.
Trained by Tom George, this nine-year-old looked to have a huge future when landing teh Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at the 2017 Aintree Grand National Festival.
However, he then failed to get his head in front the following season, but was far from disgraced in finishing a 7 1/2 lengths seventh of 15 to Penhill in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Worlds End then won two of his first three starts over fences in the 2018-19 season, but the wheels subsequently came off and he failed to kick-on as expected.
That resulted in connections switching him back to the smaller obstacles. The Worlds End has looked as good as ever in winning two of his three starts this season.
In the first of those at Wetherby, the McNeill Family owned son of Stowaway readily beat Unowhatimeanharry by five lengths in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle.
The Worlds End was then far from disgraced when a seven-length third to the star of the division, Paisley Park, in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
He resumed winning ways with a gutsy display in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot when rallying strongly to get the better of L’Ami Serge by 2 3/4 lengths.
The Worlds End now has to shoulder a 6lb penalty and give weight all-round as a result, but he now drops back in grade for a weak renewal of the Rendlesham.
His form is also head and shoulders above anything his five rivals have achieved, so odds of 13/8 with Paddy Power look fully justified.
Portrush Ted the Pertemps punt
George and the NcNeill Family look to hold leading claims of landing a double on the card with Portrush Ted in the 3m Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier (15:50).
This eight-year-old was a very smart bumper performer in 2017-18 when winning twice.
After finishing a fine second at Hereford to Brewin’Upastorm – who is now rated 138 over hurdles and 150 over fences – Portrush Ted landed a Grade 2 at the Aintree Grand National Festival in fine style.
The son of Shantou stayed on strongly to beat Kateson by 3 1/4 lengths and has some very smart performers in-behind.
They included Harambe, – who came third, won this year’s Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle and is now rated 144 – and the fourth home Al Dancer, who went on to land the valuable Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle off 144 and is now rated 151.
That gives the form an extremely strong look. Portrush Ted comes into this on the back of a taking success at Ayr last month following 519 days on the sidelines.
He travelled ominously well throughout and found plenty when pressed on the run-in to readily beat Grand Morning by just over two lengths off a mark of 131.
Portrush Ted has been out up 7lb for that, but a revised rating of 138 may still seriously underestimate his ability – judged on the strength of his aforementioned success at Aintree.
He is also now 2-2 over hurdles, remains unexposed over the obstacles and open to plenty more progression – unlike the vast majority of his 11 rivals.
Soft ground also holds no fears, so Portrush Ted looks to have lots going for him. Hence, at 4/1 with Betfred, he makes plenty of appeal here.
