TOP-WEIGHT may not be sufficient to prevent Victory Roll (4.00) storming home in Folkestone's Eastwell Manor Handicap Chase.

Emma Lavelle's ten-year-old was crocked for the whole of last season, but any lingering signs of injury were completely dispelled when he finished runner-up over track and trip last time out.

Marcus Foley's mount only cracked at the final fence on that occasion, gamely holding all comers until Roznic shot past to take the money. Even in defeat it was an excellent performance by Victory Roll, who now that he's been expertly nursed back to full fitness is primed and ready to strike.

In the preceding Fearless Imp Handicap Chase, Rosetown (3.30) is fancied to follow up his recent Hereford triumph.

The Tom George-trained gelding looked cooked at Hereford when coming under heavy pressure from his jockey, Paddy Brennan. However, far from curling up like a salted snail, Rosetown battled on bravely in the closing stages to snatch the spoils.

Compared to his hurdles rating the selection remains favourably treated over the bigger obstacles, and barring accidents seems certain to feature amongst the principals again.

The class act on the entire card is without doubt Straw Bear (1.30), taking another tentative step towards the Cheltenham or Aintree Festivals in division one of the Westenhanger Novices Hurdle.

Straw Bear, formerly with Sir Mark Prescott when pretty smart on the Flat, opened his jumps account at the first time of asking at Leicester this month.

New handler Nick Gifford is sensibly seeking to give his progressive five-year-old more experience at a relatively low level, prior to taking on the big guns in championship races.

Despite Makarim (1.50) being the elder statesman of the party at ten years of age, he could still be the one to support in the first of the Banded events at Southwell.

Martin Bosley's veteran, bred by the Derby winner Generous, out of an Affirmed mare, has put in two solid efforts on the sand of late, strongly suggesting his turn is just around the corner.

Another old-timer, Mr Whizz (3.20), carries the nap vote in the later Betdirect Freephone Banded Stakes.

Mr Whizz boasts some fair course and distance form in the past, is ridden by a super young apprentice, Liam Jones, and could conceivably start at double-digit odds in a very poor affair.

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