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15:20 Chepstow We begin at Chepstow for an intriguing seven runner Novices Chase and get to see a personal favourite by way of Blaklion make his chasing debut. The Nigel Twiston Davies trained 6 year old was highly tried last season and disappointed in his last two races but was a revelation at the beginning of the season, winning three of his first four over hurdles. Connections will be hoping he can begin this season the same way and should be capable of taking this race today on the way to bigger things over the course of the season. The main danger looks to be Cocktails At Dawn who has sometimes looked a bit suspect in his jumping but made no mistake on his final outing of last season, winning at Sandown in April by twenty six lengths. His record on re-appearance isn’t too bad, having placed twice from four when returning from similar breaks so could be capable of giving Blaklion a decent run if fully wound up. The Paul Nicholls’ trained As De Mee won three from seven over hurdles last season and is another who could be worth a follow over the season if he takes to the larger obstacles. Coming from the same yard that won this race last year he has to be considered a danger. Blaklion (WIN)
16:45 Hexham We move over to Hexham for our second selection where last years’ winner Shine A Diamond returns to defend his crown of a 4lbs lower mark. He followed up on that win in a class 4 over off a mark of 98 so despite a couple of below par efforts since he should be up to winning this class 5 off a mark of 88. Both of Everylasting’s career wins came over longer trips than today and he hasn’t attempted a trip this short in over two years but has placed in three of his four previous runs here at Hexham (still beaten by 20l, 46l and 7l respectively) and has a career strike rate of 43% for top three finishes over fences so has to be considered. The best of the remainder looks to be Roc De Prince who is yet to win over fences and has only managed one win over hurdles but should be race fit after runs on the flat in August and September. Shine A Diamond (WIN)
19:40 Chelmsford City Likely favourite Kalon Brama returns to Chelmsford having won on her last three visits here, including two over todays’ trip. She has been raised to a mark of 72 but won by over two lengths last time out and the fourth of that race has since narrowly missed out on a win so she should be capable of continuing her great recent run by adding another win to her tally today. Baileys En Premier is another multiple course and distance winner and although is higher than his last winning mark still enters calculations with Silvestre De Silva booked to ride. He was beaten in to third last time out but the form isn’t working out too badly as the winner of that race, Clary, went on to place again at Wolves last night. Thawraat returned from a 12 month break with a decent runner-up effort at Catterick last month and although is yet to record a win the Godolphin Filly has been given a workable opening handicap mark and should be capable of getting in the mix. Of the remainder Twenty One Choice also deserves a mention, taking advantage of a falling handicap mark to win a class 5 at Kempton last month. This was his first win in over two years but despite a 2lbs rise he is still lower than his highest winning mark. Kalon Brama (WIN)