Horse Racing: Maktu retains punters' faith as conditions look good for Coral Welsh National

A STAMINA-SAPPING near-three-and-three-quarter miles means the Coral Welsh National will not be for the faint-hearted and Maktu can come through with flying colours at Chepstow.

Some great horses have won this down the years, with names like Corbiere, Burrough Hill Lad, Cool Ground, Carvill's Hill and Bindaree adorning the roll of honour.

The horse for money prior to the abandonment of the original date over Christmas was the Pat Murphy-trained nine-year-old, and with conditions promising to suit him down to the ground, there is no reason to look elsewhere.

A decent racing weight is crucial for what is a real slog so he ticks that particular box, and capable claimer Michael Murphy takes a further 3lb off.

By the same sire as last year's winner, Dream Alliance, he was staying on all the way to the line behind King Fontaine at Haydock in November, failing by just a head.

Returning from his summer break, that was a fine trial as he was attempting to give 5lb to the winner.

A sound jumper trained with this in mind and relatively unexposed over fences in the context of this race, victory would be a welcome return to big-race glory for the likeable Murphy, successful in 2001 with Supreme Glory.

If You Whisper is one to follow in the Play Roulette At bluesq.com Handicap at Lingfield.

The Mike Murphy-trained three-year-old was run down by a potentially very good prospect in Towering Storm at Kempton in November, doing pretty much everything right before being collared inside the last 100 yards. Such was the impression the winner created, that looked a fair effort and so it proved as Murphy's gelding gave the form a solid look when scoring next time up at Southwell last month.

The rest of Lingfield looks very tricky, but young George Chaloner has struck up a fine rapport with Richard Fahey's Mighty Clarets and the pair cannot be opposed in the FA Cup Betting At bluesq.com Classified Claiming Stakes.

Sacrosanctus gets the vote in the Holtye Handicap having caught the eye in when fourth in a good little race last time behind a couple of other Dandy Nicholls runners, including prolific winner Even Stevens.

Nicky Henderson mounts a two-pronged attack on the 32Red Handicap Chase (Class 2) at Sandown, with narrow preference for the very smart French Opera over stablemate Dave's Dream.