Sam Turner gives you the lowdown on all the live races on ITV4 today.
13.50 Sandown
The presence of the trail-blazing Gino Trail and fellow front-runner SPEREDEK (Best price 9-4) will ensure the ability to jump at pace with precision is likely to be of paramount importance. Narrow preference is for the last-named who looks to have improved again this season judged on two excellent efforts over hurdles and he goes particularly well right handed so could be poised to make his return to chasing a winning one. If the pace does collapse late on then Overtown Express could be the chief beneficiary, but it’s a question mark whether his confidence remains intact following his Exeter fall.
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14.25 Sandown
The Warren Greatrex-trained Mulcahys Hill, a largely unconsidered contender, was agonisingly denied victory in last weekend's Challow Hurdle by a frustrating margin, but more will be expected of stablemate WESTERN RYDER (Best price 15-8) given he arrives at this afternoon's feature on the back of an impressive Cheltenham success.
A bizarre unseating of Richard Johnson at Stratford on his hurdling debut in November left Greatrex perplexed, but a smooth confidence booster at Chepstow helped to calm his trainer's nerves prior to a display of authority in a better race at Cheltenham.
Western Ryder comfortably accounted for third-home Summerville Boy that day, staying on strongly up the hill to win with a little in hand and it is hard to see how his old rival can make up the five lengths he was beaten at Prestbury Park.
This afternoon’s event represents another step up in class for Western Ryder but a stiff track and soft ground look optimum conditions and he is taken to see off Kalashnikov who has swept aside his rivals in two novice hurdles and appears the chief danger.
15.00 Sandown
PERFECT CANDIDATE (Best price 11-1) may not be racing at his favoured Cheltenham but he is also pretty effective racing right handed and there is little doubt conditions will be to his liking. There was plenty to admire in his gritty defeat of Vicente at Prestbury Park last time and, although raised 4lb for that neck victory, he did at least prove he is capable of achieving a high level of form despite his advancing years. His record right handed reads 2-4 so the selection could be some value to concede weight all round.
15.35 Call Me Lord
The unexposed CALL ME LORD (Best price 9-2) hasn’t been seen since a rather subdued comeback at Huntingdon but the return to Sandown could be the catalyst to a better showing. The top weight made short work of a warm handicap here in the spring and coped well with deep ground in his native France before joining current connections. He may not have much room for manoeuvre on his current mark, but he may outclass his rivals with conditions likely to suit.
13.35 Chepstow
SUSSEX RANGER (Best price 3-1) has taken to hurdling brilliantly and boasts the robust frame to cope with a war of attrition on heavy ground. The selection clocked a superb time at Sandown on his latest start when galloping his rivals into submission and he could complete a hat-trick over hurdles. The only negative is the runner-up from that Sandown race was comfortably beaten at Fontwell subsequently, but he was asked to race on the worst part of the track that day so that might not be a correct interpretation of his capabilities and Sussex Ranger is an appealing price to lower the colours of We Have A Dream.
14.05 Chepstow
The racing Gods haven't looked favourably of late upon FINAL NUDGE (Best price 14-1) but that could change in the Welsh National.
The mud-loving gelding capsized four fences from home when travelling well in the Midlands version last spring and was only narrowly beaten in a valuable Wincanton staying event on his return.
The selection has historically saved his best performances for attritional conditions so today's ground, which won't be for the feint hearted, should play to his strengths and he looks very fairly priced this morning.
14.40 Wincanton
The west country venue hasn’t always been the happiest of hunting grounds for ANTARTICA DE THAIX (Best price 11-10) given her form figures currently read 2U22F1 but she is invariably thereabouts if her technique holds together and she should relish the testing ground. Her stats at today’s trip also make impressive reading (2F111) and she arguably bumped into one of the season’s nicest novices in Mia’s Storm at Market Rasen in a Listed event. The drop back into handicaps should suit and she can benefit from the absence of the admirable Play The Ace.
15.15 Wincanton
The penny has taken a while to drop with BILL AND BARN (Best price 2-1) and he has looked something of a slow learner to date. However, there were signs at Chepstow he is learning on the job and he is taken to exploit a fair looking mark on his first dip into handicaps. The selection operated so effectively on deep ground on his latest start that today’s conditions should hold no terrors and he is taken to see off Le Boizelo who is another that appreciates plenty of cut and went well at Exeter earlier this week.
15.45 Wincanton
Conditions are likely to be pretty brutal by this stage of proceedings but that should play to the strengths of the likeable DAYTIME AHEAD (Best price 8-1) gains the nod in a tricky finale. Ron Hodges saddled a welcome winner on the flat recently and his mare was agonisingly touched off by Lagavara at Leicester when caught on the line. The selection boasts figures of 011 at today’s track and her performances have definitely improved for the summer switch to Hodges, while the deep ground should present no great issue.
