PADDOCKS PATENT (FRIDAY)

13.20 Ascot The Phillip Hobbs yard have started the season in fine form and Imperial Presence looks like a horse who has a great chance of enhancing that record here today. The exciting novice chaser made an eye catching start to life over the larger obstacles when runner up on his fences debut. He then followed that up with a respectable fifth in a hot handicap last time Newbury. He was too keen that day and probably went off too quick in front that day, but he still remains full of potential and will take all the beating today if settling into a better rhythm up front early on here so he gets the each way nod. Dangers are a plenty in this competitive field. Jonjo O’Neill comes in double handed here, but Barry Geraghty’s mount of I’dliketheoption looks the pick of those two. He won at Ludlow two starts back and should be vastly experienced in this company, but he comes against a number of potential improvers here and chances are he will find one too good. Sue Smith’s Red Devil Star is one who could go well at a price. The jumping let him down when behind the re-opposing Back by midnight at Sandown last time, but expect him to get a lot closer to that rival with a better round of jumping here. IMPERIAL PRESENCE (E/W)

15.20 Newcastle A competitive 6f claimer where a number of horses have a real chance in this grade. Karl Burke’s Yeeoow won off a mark of 80 back in August at Goodwood and so should go close here in this company if repeating that level, but has been badly out of form since including when only fifth in a handicap claimer last time out. Dandy Nicholls’ charge Manatee Bay is another who should run a big race at this sort of level after showing good form in three handicaps on the AW recently. He won the third of those outings, but his latest run at Chelmsford would suggest he may have gone off the boil. The horse that looks the pick in this one is George Baker’s six year old Intibaah. A classy sort in his heyday, and while he is clearly not the force of old now dropped to a claimer, even his best form of this season which includes to creditable efforts in France, would see him have leading claims here. The horse was third in the latest of these outings and that form makes him the clear pick on the unique Newcastle all-weather. INTIBAAH (WIN)

15.30 Uttoxeter A fascinating NH Flat race ends the competitive card at Uttoxeter and sees the debut of a number of future exciting prospects. Neil Mulholland’s newcomer Dead Right catches the eye immediately and Noel Fehily takes the ride for the juggernaught owner JP McManus so expectations will be sky high for this one. A nice pedigree for this sphere and the trainer has a 12% strike rate in this kind of contest, but the lack of early money would be off putting given those powerful connections so he may be best watched for now. Warren Greatex’s charge, Rock My Style, was bought for 28,000 after a solid second place in an Irish point and he is in the right hands with the yard’s 30% strike rate in this sphere. Hard to see what that form is worth though and looks short enough in market. A chance instead is taken on Evan Williams’ De Dollar Man, who was a high priced addition to the yard recently and looks to have a leading chance here. He won an Irish Point in decent debut back in October so he comes here looking to enhance the stable’s already decent record in this sphere and he gets the nod to land the spoils today. DE DOLLAR MAN (WIN)