Good match at Donny Nicky Henderson's Larks Lad got a walkover at Southwell in November and today the Seven Barrows horse, Loose Preformer will hopefully not face a similar scenario in the 1stsecuritysolutions.co.uk Novices' Chase at Doncaster at 2.15. Four were declared for this three miler but the field is now down to two with Beneficial Reform and China House non-runners. It has now come down to a match between Loose Preformer and Edge Of Town. Henderson said of the Kerr-Dineen, Lloyd Webber & Nielsen owned Luso bay pre-season: "He is called Loose Preformer but, I have to say, this preformer was a disappointing performer. With the little I had done with him the previous spring he looked a really promising horse coming from the point-to-point field, but in a couple of outings he was extremely disappointing. He has had a good summer and let's just hope he will come back and prove to be what I thought he was. He certainly ought to be winning his novice hurdles before going chasing." A fortnight ago the six-year-old made a successful chasing bow at Leicester and he is now odds-on to beat a worthy opponent in Edge Of Town – impressive off the back of a lengthy break at Hexham early last month. Jason Maguire rides Edge Of Town and this Witness Box gelding, bred by Jimmy Mangan, comes from the family of Charlie Lenihan, For Auction and Hi Cloy. (EM)
