MARY REVELEY'S decision to send Roveretto chasing has brought about an instant change of fortune for the eight-year-old, who was on a long losing streak over hurdles prior to switching his attentions to fences.

Up until a month ago Roveretto couldn't seem to win for love nor money, trying but failing valiantly to cope with an impossibly high hurdles' rating. Fortunately the memory of those disappointments are fading fast now that he has bagged a brace of chase wins on his recent two forays to Musselburgh.

The victories were especially sweet considering they were achieved over two miles, a trip in my estimation palpably too short for the gelding. It's a theory that in any case is about to be put to the test in the Kelly's Boy Memorial Chase at Kempton, since Roveretto (2.55) steps up considerably in distance to an extended two-miles-and-a-half.

In heading south, rather than the far easier pickings to be had in the north, Reveley's raider has to face far stiffer opposition than he has encountered to date, notably Martin Pipe's Jaybejay and Nicky Henderson's Scots Grey.

Both are near top-notch young chasers, however, Roveretto's useful turn of foot, plus smooth style of jumping, could conceivably combine to unhinge that talented duo even though they technically have "home advantage".

Bangor-bound Bold Hunter (12.45) rates one of the unluckiest losers of the season so far on account of his stupendous final fence blunder when five lengths clear of his rivals over course and distance in December.

The hapless Ollie McPhail had absolutely no chance of staying in the saddle, fired into orbit by Bold Hunter's attempt to take the obstacle out by its roots. If the combination are to make amends for that unfortunate calamity then they must safely negotiate all 12 fences in the Marchwiel Novices'' Handicap Chase at the North Wales' venue, a task well within their joint remit.

The incongruously-named Dick The Taxi (12.35) gets the nap vote in the opener at Wolverhampton, the Bet All Weather Amateur Riders' Handicap over a mile-and-a-half.

At nine-years of age Dick The Taxi is a bit long in the tooth to still be operating on the Flat, nonetheless the selection showed there was fire in his belly last week, making Mark Prescott's stayer Parachute pull out all of the stops over track and trip.

Although Mark Johnston's Eastern Dagger (1.35) has yet to hit the target, it's just a matter of time before the strapping son of Kris gets his head in front.

At least there were valid excuses for his latest defeat on the Polytrack at Lingfield where he simply didn't get the run of the race. The much slower Fibresand surface at Wolverhampton should suit.

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