Sandown 1.10 Heaven Smart 1/2 pt ew @ 11’2 – Placed in two of seven Irish points and bought for £38,000; mistakes did not help when he flopped on his second go over hurdles but he was much better on starts either side, pipped in a maiden at Lingfield on latest; should still be open to improvement
Musselburgh 1.28 Half Shot 1/4 pt ew @ 10’1 – Won at Sedgefield in October when back over fences and followed up over hurdles here; fair third in a C&D chase on New Year’s Day and might not be far away
Sandown 1.45 Frero Banbou 1/2 pt ew @ 6’1 – Consistent campaigner who chased home Dolos in this race 12 months ago and is now 5lb better off; ran just respectably when 15l third of seven over C&D four weeks ago, but he’s been dropped another 2lb and is unlikely to be far away
Musselburgh 2.03 Captain Cattistock 1/2 pt ew @ 8’1 firms offering 4 places – Won this last year and followed up at Cheltenham in April; has climbed the weights and it’s a more competitive race than 12 months ago, but he’s run creditably on both starts this season and could be thereabouts
Sandown 2.20 Monmiral 1/2 pt ew @ 5’1 – Easily the best of these over hurdles, having won a Grade 1 as a juvenile and been runner-up in the big 2m4f Aintree Grade 1 last April; unable to deal with top prospect Jonbon on chase debut at Warwick and although beaten again at Cheltenham five weeks ago, that was smart form in a Grade 2 (narrowly held on for second from Thunder Rock); should not be far away
Wetherby 2.40 City Chief 1pt win @ 3’1 – Hurdling ability needs respecting and this point winner is entitled to make a superior chaser; mistakes held him back when beaten in a match on his first attempt but it was a good three-runner handicap that he won without much fuss at Hereford; there should be more to come on only his eighth run under rules
Sandown 2.55 Bothwell Bridge 1/4 pt ew @ 25’1 firms offering 5 places – Has an all-or-nothing profile, either winning or failing to complete on last seven starts; pulled up over fences for the third consecutive outing in November on return; back to hurdles for the first time since April 2021 and this should be a competitive mark
Leopardstown 3.05 Fury Road 1/4 pt ew @ 33’1 – He ran a big race in the Savills Chase when third to Conflated and, while Galopin Des Champs is obviously going to be very hard to beat, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fury Road running a big race. He’s won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown and he seems to like the place
Musselburgh 3.16 Parisencore 3/4 pt ew @ 9’1 / 8’1 (NAP) – Disappointing at Newbury in November last time out but he was progressive otherwise in 2022 with three wins and it will be no surprise if he bounces back with a big run
Sandown 3.30 Larry 1/4 pt ew @ 20’1 firms offering 4 places – Won the first two of his four races over these Sandown fences, with lesser efforts both at 3m5f; won well at Ascot on reappearance and respectable fifth at Kempton over Christmas; plausible each-way candidate
ITV Double 1 pt ew @ Parisencore & Captain Cattistock ( firms offering 4 places )