Wetherby 3.32 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 4 - 2 miles 5 and 1/2 furlongs - 13 run - Good to Soft

 

Jacovec Cavern who fell at cork last week when well clear at the last is no stranger to the UK but makes Course debut here and has little recovery time, that I think makes him vulnerable. CRAZIERTHANDAISY though the second favourite at around 4/1 looks both a solid "win" or safety ner e/w banker" in my opinion to be backed one way or the other at your discretion. Hendersons novice steps up to handicap company with form figures of 3-1-2-2-1 and off what looks a lenient mark of 109. 

 

Of the rest Kapvert is an unexposed ex 3 mile P2P winner who steps up from runs at an inadequate 2 miles and who should improve markedly for that. Soldierofthestorm is struggling to deliver on initial promise but is one who could fire at any time and I have a nagging niggle in my stomach that Fosters'island is not only due to fire but that this is just the type of race Hammond will have targeted. 

 

That said I am more keen on BLUE HOP my 2nd best rated who is in decent form including a recent win and this looks a slight ease in quality of the opposition and a solid each way punt on that basis. At bigger Odds to enhanced places widely available, I thought that KILTA running off a very nice Hurdles mark a Distance winner and a nice spare ride for Sean Bowen, was well worth a small investment and more so than Fosters'island (and that niggling pain) (Northern)

 

---

 

Fontwell 3.45 - Handicap Chase - Series Final - Class 2 - 2 miles 3 and 1/2 furlongs - Good to Soft - 12 run

 

I really narrowed this down to 4 horses and of them the 4th rated was Call of The Dogs who has a good Course record, will handle the ground but who will need to be fully tuned up after a 4 month break.

 

My top rated is Skeltons NEXT LEFT, they go for first time cheekpieces, there is a 20 grand pot here and Sklton will be looking for every penny he can get before the Grand National to ensure he doesn't lose the Trainers Title race again in the dying embers of the season. JOE COTTON also goes for first time headgear, in his case Blinkers and this really nice and consistent horse deserves a win in a race like this.

 

If there is one decent one at bigger prices it would be FAME AND FUN, if you wish to play the enhanced places on offer with some, the Moores Course winner will appreciate the ground and they will surely have prepared one in the Yard for this nice prize just down the Road (A27) , literally, from their home base. (The Advisor)

 

-------