BEST OF THE REST

16:00 Fairyhouse

Surprisingly the final race on the card at Fairyhouse isn't a National Hunt Flat race as a field of 16 look set to compete in this wide open handicap hurdle.

Current market leader Paddys Planet is looking to make it three wins on the spin after racking up victories at both Limerick and Naas however a 9lb rise in weight may be enough to holt his winning run.

Lord Lariat is also on the hunt for a trio of consecutive wins after two chase victories and this course and distance winner reverts to hurdling. Without a win over the smaller obstacles in 18 months I'm not overly convinced a return to hurdling is going to be the best move and as such I'm happy to take him on.

Unlike the aforementioned duo Western Zara is lightly raced with just four starts in her career and two promising runs in big runner fields should stand her in good stead for a solid performance once again. The yard of Paul Nolan is going well of late with two recent winners and at a nice price Western Zara should have enough in the locker to at least finish in the first four.

WESTERN ZARA (E/W)

16:23 Lingfield

Archie Watson's Igotatext has had a very poor run of form having finished no better than 7th in his last five runs. That being said I still feel he's worth taking a risk on based on the best of his form. His sole all-weather win came here at Lingfield, over this trip and also with jockey Hollie Doyle in the saddle. With all three of those factors now back on the menu I'm hoping will see a drastic change of fortune. Trainer Archie Watson has his horses flying with five winners from his last nineteen runners for a strike rate of 26%. If his four year old reproduces his two year old form then he'd be able to play a major part in this.

Fellow course and distance winners and veterans Inaam and Cappananty Con are both on very attractive marks and punters will be advised to ignore them at their peril with both capable of springing a shock.

Favourite Water Of Leith wasn't far away when 2nd last time out and looks likely to go equally close once again however at such a short price it looks a better option to hunt for an each-way alternative.

IGOTATEXT (E/W)

19:05 Kempton

The sole course and distance winner in the penultimate race on the card at Kempton's evening meeting looks the one to take a chance on. Culture returns to Class 5 company for the first time in 17 runs and this drop in class should be a massve help to his chances of adding to his course victories. With all three of his career all-weather victories coming here at Kempton off marks of 84, 79 and 73 not only does he handle the course well but he's now below all three of his winning marks. His last victory came when under the tutelage of trainer Tom Ward before changing to the yard of Jedd O'Keeffe. The six year old returned to the yard of Tom Ward earlier in the year and with top jockey Martin Harley booked for the ride he looks drastically overpriced at double figure odds.

CULTURE (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock