When you train in Oxfordshire, as is the case with Charlie Longsdon, you'd think twice about sending a horse over 300 miles and six hours or so on the road if you didn't think it had a decent chance.
The Mighty Arc makes such a trip on behalf of Longsdon, to contest the Racing's Best Ratings With Timeform Handicap Chase (15:05), over an extended 2m 5f.
Very much a positive for the seven-year-old is that, after travelling so far, he'll be partnered by champion elect Brian Hughes in the race.
Hughes has been on board for three of the gelding's last four starts, including when the partnership won comfortably by five lengths at Sedgefield (2m5f, good to soft) last time.
That was a 0-120 contest, for which he went up 7lb, so he now steps up in class.
He takes on two better horses on paper, in Silver Hallmark and Pay The Piper, but as it's a handicap, they have to concede our improver well over a stone apiece.
That's good enough for me to take the promise of The Mighty Arc against the big two, and he's the nap on Friday at Kelso (15:05).
