Lucy Wadham is confident Little Light can defy top weight and secure her first victory in more than a year by making her class count in the Racing TV Handicap Chase at Huntingdon tomorrow (Thursday 6th May).
The Newmarket trainer, who sent out a personal best total of 24 winners last season, expects the seven year old mare to be competitive in the extended two mile prize when bidding to make her third start at the Cambridgeshire track a winning one.
Although Little Light, who is seeking a first victory since last March, was well held in a mares handicap chase at Cheltenham last time out, Wadham believes a line can be put through that effort after she suffered interference at a crucial stage of the race.
Wadham explained: “Little Light had a bit of a stop-start time of it last season as she had a lot of foot trouble early in the campaign. We finally had her right at Cheltenham when she got badly interfered with at the top of the hill.
“She jumped the fence fine but she had to avoid a faller just when they were quickening. That really knocked her off her stride and she was then on the back foot.
“She just struggled to find her form last season and I was hoping she would come into a bit of form at Cheltenham but then that all happened.
“This is a massive drop in class and I’m hopeful of a good show. She hasn’t run that brilliantly on her last two starts at Huntingdon but I’m confident her class can tell.”
Meanwhile Olly Murphy believes Rock The House, who is one of four runners at the meeting for the Wilmcote handler, holds a “fair chance” of following up his last time out success at the track in the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.
He said: “The race he won last time appears to be working out well. A lot went wrong the last day. He lost his position down the back and he had to do it the hard way, so hopefully he will get a smoother passage this time.
“It has just taken a while for him to get the hang of things and for the penny to drop with him. He is in good form and that win has done him the world of good. He looks to have a fair chance in an open race.”
The Grade One winning handler is represented later on the card by newcomers Urban Grit and Storm Of Light, one of two runners at the meeting for leading owner Diana Whateley, in the opening division of the Racing TV Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race.
He added: “Storm Of Light is not the most straightfoward horse, hence why he is wearing a hood first time out. The most important thing for him on Thursday is that he relaxes in the preliminaries as he can be a bit of a hot-head. He has got plenty of ability though and will be a nice staying type.
“Urban Grit is only four and will improve on whatever he shows. He will have a nice holiday after this run but he would have a little each-way chance.”
Fellow newcomer Wolfspear, who like Storm Of Light is owned by Cheltenham Festival-winning owner Whateley, will fly the flag for Murphy in the second division of the two mile prize.
He added: “Wolfspear is a nice horse who is very straightforward. He is a big galloping type and the softer the ground the better his chance. It would not surprise me if he won first time out.”
