Fontwell 2.00- Handicap Hurdle - Class 4 - 3 miles 3 furlongs - 10 run - Good to Soft

 

Fortuns Ligna and Craven Bay, who is on a hat-trick top the market but neither look bomb-proof. San Pedro a Course and Distance winner has had a flat race spin and may be the biggest danger to them and my final selection. Heaven Smart would have an each way chance if race fit and at big odds, I'm going to TRACK Kingston Kid forwards as it has some half decent provincial Irish form and may be found a nice small race here in the not too distant future.

 

The each way value though may be the Pipe trained BEN LILY who ran inexplicably poorly last time after running well on the first start of the season, it ticks every box here and if just running as well as it normally does would hold very strong place claims at least and the race fitness may be a very handy asset. (RJ)

 

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Hexham 3.55- Handicap Hurdle - class 5 - 2 miles 7 and 1/2 furlongs - 12 run - Good

 

Bergentown who was a runner up when trying this trip for the first time on the latest run is a worthy favourite but not unopposable. Fainche is second favourite but a 24 race Maiden and  may need this run on past seasonal debut evidence. Robert D'Ores has had a wind operation and after some previous decent efforts is one to note and fear but we'll wait and see if the operation has helped.

 

Two really stand out and there is one a huge odds who has a course and distance win at similarly huge odds.

 

DEQUAIL has been runner up on last 2 Course and Distance races off marks of 75 and 76, runs off 78 with a 3lbs Claimer up and really on that evidence and with race fitness looks a very strong each way punt. Clear second rated is LADY HAMILTON also one with some solid Course form from 2 miles right up to this trip abd another who has already had a run.

 

For the £1 e/w merchants, Colonel Manderson is in awful form but did pop up here off a similar profile at big odds not that long ago and never write off lightning striking twice with this sort of horse IF it decides it's going to enjoy the run as opposed to not be that interested. (North)

 

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Exeter 4.10 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 4 - 2 miles 1/2 furlong - 13 run - Good

 

They will be grateful for the low cloud that has been evident all week as too many meetings here in recent years have been spoiled by the low sun.

 

At the head of the market are 3 horses from big yards and whilst i think that the Nicholls horse Centara may need the blow out and further than this and the Pauling trained King of The Road may also be lumbered off this mark and also need the run, I can't see any reason not to have a crafty win tip in those circumstances on the Phillip Hobbs trained SUNNINGHILL who is race fit and makes handicap debut off what looks a nice mark.

 

Of the remainder in the 13 runner field, Final Entry also brings race fitness and gets a 3 year old allowance and just missed out to one i just fancied a  little more and Iris Des Issards is one for the TRACKER as will certainly be winning races round the south West this winter once tuned up. 

 

The other one I liked enough for an investment though is the Alan King trained ZODIAC STAR who should have come on for a spin a month ago and who looks a very solid each way poke in the 8-10/1 price range (Robin)