The formidable combination of Martin Pipe and Tony McCoy, on the mark with Eudipe on Saturday, can strike with Strong Tel at Fontwell today. This grand stamp of a horse, who showed useful form over hurdles last season, made his chasing debut on his reappearance at Chepstow last month and caught the eye with an encouraging display.
Ridden by Rodi Greene, the nine-year-old was sent off the 8 to 1 third favourite behind Flagship Uberalles and stable companion Potentate.
Strong Tel ran well to finish third, beaten 11 lengths and one and three-quarter lengths behind Potentate and Flagship Uberalles and he would probably have finished second to his stablemate had he not made a mess of the second last.
With that experience under his belt and against less taxing opposition, Strong Tel is napped to open his account over fences in the Fullerton & Coleman Novices' Chase.
Later on the card Shahrur looks a good bet to get off the mark for the term in the West Sussex Handicap Hurdle over an extended 18 furlongs after a fine effort on his most recent outing in a two-mile handicap at Kempton over Christmas.
Always in contention last time Gary Moore's charge was just tapped for toe from two out but kept on gamely to finish third, beaten 12 1/2 lengths behind Serenus.
The handicapper has dropped Shahrur 2lb since that run and with the extra two furlongs in his favour today he can prove too strong for the likes of Caracol and Heart.
At Southwell, the Coral Handicap is a wide-open affair with 16 runners and it could pay to take a chance with Count de Money, who is set to carry just 7st 12lb in this 11-furlong contest.
Formerly trained by Alan Jarvis, Count de Money was bought for 3,000 guineas at the sales in October and was sent into training with Roy Bowring.
The four-year-old soon repaid connections with an easy five-length success over 12 furlongs at Southwell the following month.
Raised 10lb for his next start at Wolverhampton he was given plenty to do and with the surface riding fast the leaders did not come back to him. However, he finished well to take third spot two and a half lengths behind the winner Ronquista d'Or, giving the impression he was slightly unfortunate.
Dropped 2lb for today's race, Count de Money represents fair value and with the significant booking of top light-weight Jimmy Quinn is selected to regain the winning thread.
Judged on his impressive debut over fences at Warwick in November, when he slammed Barhale Boy by five lengths, King On The Run from David Nicholson's inform yard looks the best wager on Fakenham's card in the Marie Curie Golden Daffodil Novices' Chase.
