TimeformBlog

14:30 - Dark Shadow looks like a sensible selection in the opening novice hurdle, with his form to date over obstacles looking just about the most solid on offer. With the defection of Hoare Abbey, Nicky Henderson's five-year-old goes is as a banker.

15:00 - The first of a few tricky seven-runner - and so only two places - races on the card, and it could pay to play things safe with the two 'obvious' ones. Tiger O'Toole was a decent hurdler and shaped better on his latest chase start over two miles, giving the imrpession that he'd appreciate this step up to two and a half miles. U B Carefull posted solid efforts on his first three completed starts over fences, and seemed to get bogged down in heavy ground last time. With a break to freshen him up and the return to a sounder surface today, he should also be on the premises.

15:30 - Derwen Pryde was an impressive winner over course and distance back in November, and shaped well after a short break in soft ground at Ffos Las eleven days ago, suggesting this sort of mark may not prove beyond her. With that run under her belt she should go well, and is the sole selection.

16:00 - The three-mile handicap chase is the most valuable race on the card, and course specialist Theatre Diva is fancied to go well. Her form figures here read 2121111, and she made a satisfactory reappearance at Wincanton recently. If coming on from that effort, she would look to have every chance of hitting the frame. Cootehill is a largley consistent performer who arrives on the back of a few solid efforts, and has gone well at the track, so can also make his presence felt.

16:30 - Themilanhorse is lightly raced, and the form of his win at Warwick reads well (runner-up won next two). There's a fair chance he will rate much higher than this mark in the future, and it would be disappoiting if he didn't go close.

17:00 - The final-leg hunter chase has an open feel to it. Double Mead has been a winner and a runner-up in two starts at Ludlow, arrives on the back of an easy pointing win, and looks to hold every chance of going close. Oca De Thaix hasn't run for 257 days, but that isn't neccessarily a concern given he won over course and distance after a similar absence last February, and he also looks to hold every chance.

Selections:
14:30 - 3
15:00 - 5, 6
15:30 - 6
16:00 - 3, 5
16:30 - 1
17:00 - 2, 5
= 8 Lines

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