Ben Linfoot has the best bets for Wednesday with his Nap in action at Nottingham.
Saeed bin Suroor traditionally farms races at Nottingham at this time of year and it could be worth chancing his LONG TRADITION in the 10-furlong handicap at 3.45. The son of Shamardal was absent for 431 days before he returned at Yarmouth last time, but he shaped well in a good race, only weakening very late on when fitness told. He’ll have been brought back with a race like this in mind and with the testing conditions of no fear to him he can prove himself well treated off 88 under Christian Howarth.
West Balboa will be all the rage in this mares’ novices’ chase but she was well suited to big fields in handicap hurdles and this will be a very different test with Joe Tizzard’s ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE preferred. Two and a half miles on soft ground is just about her optimum over hurdles and she’s bred to improve for seeing a fence.
Dan Skelton is always a man to watch out for at the early Wetherby meetings, or any Wetherby meeting, and he looks to have found a good opportunity for new recruit STORMINHOME in the 2m5f novice handicap chase. Formerly with Ben Pauling, Storminhome looked to be getting to grips with chasing when last seen finishing a close second at Ascot back in March and his experience over fences can be a vital weapon in this race.
D DAY HARLEY R can strike in division two of the mile nursery at Kempton. Kevin Phillipart De Foy’s son of Ardad improved on his first three runs significantly when third at Leicester on nursery debut last time, just being slightly outpaced over seven furlongs. His half-brother Pirate’s Treasure took off when unleashed in mile handicaps on the all-weather and with cheekpieces applied first time here a career-best looks forthcoming.
Dan Skelton's SNIPE looks the one to be on in the Phil Gowling Memorial rhino.bet Handicap Chase at Carlisle. The lightly-raced seven-year-old won twice during his first season over fences, including first time out this time last year, and while a bit below par when set a stiff task on his final outing in February, he's likely to come out firing again this season given the yard is seemingly going through the gears. He seems fine on all types of ground and should still have plenty more to offer from his mark of 124, just 6lb higher than when scoring impressively at Aintree (soft) on Boxing Day last year.
ADMIRALTY HOUSE lacks a recent run but a lot of Alan King's jumpers appear to have hit the ground running and he could be worth chancing despite the 21-month layoff. He won a juvenile hurdle at Kempton (almost exactly) two years ago and filled the runner-up spot in his two subsequent appearances. He's been eased a couple of pounds in the ratings following his time away and might be able to take full advantage, especially as the forecast strong pace on here should help a free-going sort like him.
Ruth Carr's FISCAL POLICY looks worth another chance off his revised mark of 71, having got no sort of run over this course and distance at Southwell earlier in the month. Raised just 3lb for his half-length victory at Pontefract in September, the chestnut son of Profitable got no run whatsoever in his follow-up bid, ultimately being brought home in his own time after being hampered around a furlong from home. The reopposing Spirit Of Applause was also caught up in the same traffic in that race and finished ahead of Fiscal Policy in third, but the latter is fancied to turn the tables with a clear passage.
Stall nine of 11 may not be absolutely ideal but otherwise PROFITMAN has plenty going for him and is fancied to get the job done on balance. He won twice over this trip back in the spring, including once at this track, and was back to form with a neck second over course and distance late last month. He's gone up 1lb to 55 but was placed off 59 (when sent off 4/5 favourite) at Wolverhampton earlier in the year so it would be surprising if the assessor has him exactly where he wants him.
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