3.15 Handicap Hurdle - Class 5 - 3 miles 2 and 1/2 furlongs - 12 run - Good to Soft (rain probable)

 

Very important to be weather aware here as Stratford has a Clay base and when it gets wet and can get very deep and pudding like quite quickly.

 

Moscow Spy and Dora De Janeiro are both in the Tracker System, Moscow Spy an ex Jonjon horse who has never really fulfilled potential has moved to Grace Harris who has a knack of getting improvement out of these types, it'll be interesting to continue to Track the horse upped in trip and worth watching. Dora De Janeiro has been off for 111 days, upped in trip and another one to keep an eye on and will probably need the run.

 

Top Drawer , off 222 days and with good form at Uttoxeter is worth following over the coming months but will likely need to run too, as may Our Three Sons who won a couple of small races last season. WILLIAM EWART looks to one they all have to beat here and I prefer it to The Questioner who is upped 6lbs above last Hurdles mark and reverts to hurdles probably looking for a confidence boost after jumping issues.

 

At each way value the biggest danger I can see is Reve De Niamh who showed apparent improvement upped in trip and fitted with cheek-pieces last time at Ayr and if that run is replicated would be a real danger. I really do like SHANTOU SUNSET today though, the Mare won over course and distance for Phillip Hobbs, has good form in May and this looks to be her best time of the year fast approaching so one to TRACK and worth a small investment here as is stablemate LUCKELLO a 3 miles P2P winner back over hurdles and one who could easily outrun inflated early odds

 

TIPS - (1) William Ewart (win) / (2) Shantou Sunset (3) - if you wish Luckello (reserve would be Reve De Niamh)

 

4.15 - Handicap Chase - Class 5 - 3 miles 3 and 1/2 furlongs - 13 run - Good to Soft - 

 

If it gets attritional here a couple really stand out and they are KIM EYRE a tough and genuine stayer who has winning 3 mile P2P form and GALOP DU BOSC who is in the TRACKER and who delivered a 40/1 runner up effort on Soft at Chepstow on penultimate run. It fell last time but with a clear round it should go very close.

 

The main opposition should come from Ali Star Bert who wouldn't want too much rain and  Enticelle Artist who has shown some promise in the past and had a wind operation and one i've added to the TRACKER.

 

TIPS (1) Kim Eyre / (2) Galop Du Bosc