Ideal chance for Minella to impress

TIPS: Opportunity for eight-year-old to get back to winning ways at Sandown

Paul Nicholls and Jody Sole can team up to good effect once more with Minellahalfcentury in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown.

Successful with Merrion Square in 2013, Minellahalfcentury has so far failed to live up to early hopes.

However, an event such as this one at Sandown could be just the thing needed to set him back on the winning path.

The eight-year-old looked a decent prospect when winning a couple of hurdles while his second chase start last term yielded victory.

However, the wheels came off on his next two starts and Nicholls put Minellahalfcentury away by the end of February last year after he broke a blood vessel.

His initial effort at Cheltenham in November offered encouragement but his recent Taunton effort was a little lacklustre as he was last of five finishers.

That run came after another break, though, so perhaps he just needed the outing to set him right and he should certainly benefit from having the highly capable Sole in the plate.

Question Of Faith got the job done at Ayr last month and can repeat the dose back at the Scottish circuit in the Watch RacingUK HD Today Just £10 Handicap Hurdle.

SELECTIONS

AYR: 2.00 Minella Aris, 2.30 Jumbo John, 3.05 Dr Moloney, 3.40 Clan Legend, 4.15 Little Glenshee, 4.50 Question Of Faith, 5.25 Sevenballs Of Fire.

SANDOWN: 2.10 Smart Catch, 2.40 Air Horse One, 3.15 MINELLAHALFCENTURY (NAP), 3.50 Bon Enfant, 4.25 The Brock Again, 5.00 Bagging Turf.

DOUBLE: Minellahalfcentury and Under Siege.

Picture: Getty. Paul Nicholls can team up with Jody Sole and Minellahalfcentury to good effect in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown.