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13:30 Chepstow Phillip Hobbs has a decent record with his runners over hurdles at Chepstow, winning ten and placing in ten from thirty two for a 31% winning strike rate over the last three years. His runner in the first race is Rolling Dylan who has made the frame in all five career runs to date and has placed in all three runs over a similar distance to what he encounters today. A winner on seasonal reappearance last year means that the 220 day absence shouldn’t pose too many problems and with more scope for improvement than a number of his rivals here he is taken to come out on top today. Perhaps the biggest danger is likely to come by way of the Paul Nicholls’ runner Copain De Classe. He fell on debut for the yard in November last year and hasn’t been seen since but will likely have been well schooled ahead of his return and with the yard operating at a 56% winning strike rate over the last two weeks he has to be respected. A couple of others to consider include two hurdling debutants in Laser Light and Star Tackle. Laser Light arrives for an in-form stable and won over two miles in a NH flat race last time out, while Star Tackle arrives on the back of a win in point-to-points earlier in the year. Both will need to prove they can handle the trip and the obstacles but based on what they have achieved to date rate as best of the rest. Rolling Dylan (WIN)
14:40 Bangor Just the four runners are scheduled to go to post yet it looks to be an intriguing contest. Value At Risk will likely go off at a short price but still has to prove his worth over the larger obstacles having only completed one in three and was beaten at short odds in the one race he completed. If putting it all together today may well romp home but at the prices and given his record thus far over fences i’m happy to take him on. Hunters Hoof disappointed in three runs over the spring, finishing well down the field in all three, however does have winning form on return from a break and has also won over today’s trip (albeit over hurdles). He will have to improve on what he has shown so far this year and his yard have been relatively quiet over the last few weeks but nevertheless he cannot be entirely discounted given the field size. Preference is for Wishing And Hoping who has won three from six career races so far. He makes his chase debut here so there is always a risk that his jumping may not be foot perfect but he won on good ground on seasonal reappearance last year so the absence and ground conditions shouldn’t be feared and given the form of the King yard here at Bangor (five winners from eight in the last twelve months at the course, and a winning strike rate of 57% over the last three years over fences) he looks to be well placed to begin his chase career with a victory. Wishing And Hoping (WIN)
16:00 Catterick We take in a flat race for the last of our three previews today, a class 4 handicap over twelve furlongs. Early favourite and top weight Bahama Moon was a soft ground winner at Pontefract last time out and has also won on heavy ground at Redcar but both victories came over a shorter trip than he encounters here today and a 6lbs penalty will likely make things tougher. Henry Smith has been ultra-consistent in 2016, winning five from fourteen and only failing to make the frame in one of the fourteen. Having won and placed over course and distance in his last two runs he looks sure to be in the mix again although did finish just behind the re-opposing Tamayuz Magic last time out and they meet on the same terms here. Richard Fahey’s English Summer who will need to improve on recent runs but has won three from four over course and distance and has winning form on soft and heavy ground. The yard tend to do well with runners at this course (63% of all 116 runners over the last three years have made the frame) so a chance is taken their runner can upset the odds and get back to form here. English Summer (E/W)