PNicholls

14:10, Novice Hurdle
Plenty Pocket
Some of the main dangers among the five day declarations were withdrawn at the overnight stage, which obviously helps our winning chances here. We are now the form choice by some distance, but of course he has to bounce back from a very poor run last time out at Kempton on Boxing Day. There are several reasons why he may not have been at his best that day, but I think he is best when fresh and the subsequent break, better ground and the sun on his back appear to have done him the world of good. He will probably improve a bit for the run, but if returning to the form of his Kempton win or his 5 length third to Molotof at Haydock in November then you would think he would go very close to winning this.

14:40, Maiden Hurdle
Grandioso
Although there are some lightly-raced, potential improvers in here, Grandioso may just about set the standard on form coming into this race. That said, the horse probably hasn't run up to his potential since joining us from Howard Johnson, for whom he won a Musselburgh bumper and finished in midfield in the Aintree bumper. But he ran his best race yet when an 11 length third in a handicap hurdle over 2m at Wincanton last time, and I think the longer trip will suit him today.

16:40, Novice Chase
Earth Planet
This race has cut up at the overnight stage, so we are hopefully in here with another winning chance on the card. We kept Earth Planet busy after winning a Beginners' Chase over course and distance in June and he ran some smashing races in defeat thereafter, notably when second to Hold On Julio at Sandown. But we have given him a deserved break since a fourth on soft ground at Wincanton on Boxing Day and today's better ground, and the rest since December, are in his favour. Harry takes 7lb off. Tends to go well when fresh, too.

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