12:05 Cheltenham

This looks a good race with the front 3 all potentially nice horses. I was quite taken with the way HARTUR D’OUDAIRIES (best price 6/4) won at Warwick though and given the yard have been making good noises about him it was a performance to note. He looked to have gears and quickly left them standing away from the last to win impressively. He will need to improve to win this but there should be lots more to come yet and I’m keen to keep on the right side of him today and going forward. Washington looked good winning at Bangor and ran a very good race in defeat when beaten 2 lengths in a Grade 2 here last time. He sets a good standard but if the selection is as good as I hope he is I think he can improve past him. Jpr One also deserves a mention as he impressed at Exeter and will step forward from that but he is more of a chasing type I think and might be done for speed.

17:15 Southwell

This should be a good race between MASKED IDENTITY (best price 7/4) and Hathlool and I’m definitely swaying towards the former and at a bigger price. I actually had both in my Notebook but Mark Loughnane’s 6yo comes here at the top of his game having won his last two. He ran on well to win at Wolverhampton last month and up just another 2lb I don’t see how he doesn’t go close again. Hathlool is obviously improving having won at Chelmsford last time but he does have a bit to find with the selection and this looks tougher than that last race so it will certainly test his credentials. Charger is interesting on handicap debut but this is tougher and he might need more time to be seen to best effect. Crackling is also lightly raced but was well held when last seen at Newmarket and needs to bounce back to have any sort of a say here for his new yard.