Timeform highlight three handicappers who shaped well last week and earned the Horse In Focus Flag.
Raffles Nobu (Timeform rating 99)
Fourth, 2m3½f handicap hurdle, Lingfield, Monday 19 January
French import Raffles Nobu was disappointing in three starts for Nicky Henderson last season and also failed to fire on his first three starts for Nick Scholfield this term. However, there were more promising signs at Lingfield and he is now of interest from a much-reduced mark. Raffles Nobu travelled well and held every chance on the approach to the second last, but he had been shaken off by the final flight, where he made a mistake. He then lost a couple of places up the run-in, leaving the impression that he failed to stay the trip. He will benefit from dropping back to around two miles and is eligible for weaker handicaps than this one having dropped to a BHA mark of only 99, so he is one to watch out for under the right circumstances.
Jalisco Star (115)
Second, 3m1f handicap hurdle, Warwick, Friday 23 January
Laura Horsfall’s mare Jalisco Star continues to run well and has now followed her heavy-ground win at Uttoxeter last month with a couple of seconds at Fontwell and Warwick. She was no better than second best on the day this time in a competitive handicap won by Gwennie May Star but was unlucky not to finish closer. Travelling as well as any behind the leaders, Jalisco Star wasn’t fluent five out and didn’t get a clear run from the third last but ran on after being switched between the final two flights to be beaten two and three quarter lengths. Also runner-up in the same race last year, Jalisco Star held her form well last season after a couple of wins and remains one to be interested in in staying handicap hurdles.
Jagwar (155)
Runner-up, 2m4f handicap chase, Saturday 24 January
A few new faces for one of these two and a half mile handicap chases at this venue, with the likes of Il Ridoto and Ga Law nowhere to be seen for a change, though the thwarted favourite has become a regular in these and it was a fellow second-season chaser who beat him as the pair sprinted away in the closing stages. Jagwar may have returned with successive defeats this season, but he has still carried over his improvement from his novice campaign, not doing much at all wrong here for all he ended up on the wrong side of a nip-and-tuck finish with a lower-profile rival whose superior jumping put him at a slight advantage. He closed going well at the second-last and was pressing the leader when again not so tidy jumping the last. Jagwar seems assured of going well again when bidding for back-to-back Festival wins and has the option of stepping up to three miles, which may place less pressure on his slightly flawed jumping technique.