15:40 Southwell

Poet stayed on strongly to get up late at Kempton last time and he has to be respected now the penny has seemingly dropped but I don’t think he is the most straightforward and might be worth taking on off a 3lb rise. SKITTLEBOMBZ ran well on handicap debut at Newcastle despite only finishing fifth. That form has been well advertised since so I guess it was no surprise to see him go close back down to this trip last time. He was headed in the final few yards and missed by just a head at the line. The front couple came clear from the third and racing off the same mark here I don’t see how he doesn’t go close. He is building a nice profile now and gets a confident vote to make the breakthrough. Resilience didn’t need to improve to win at Wolverhampton when last seen but needs more now tackling handicap company.

18:00 Chelmsford

Given BASCULE won going away over C&D last month a 4lb rise doesn’t look enough to stop him bringing up the four-timer. He put Marshall Plan firmly in his place that day and also had Napper Tandy trailing back second last. He looks a horse firmly on the upgrade and I’m not about to abandon him just yet. This is obviously his toughest task to date now off a career high mark but that is a reflection of how well he has been progressing lately. Moliwood bounced back to hold on gamely at Wolverhampton last month and has to be respected on that form. He is only up 2lb so certainly has to be feared with an overall record of 3-8 now. Napper Tandy was awkwardly away when disappointing last time and wasn’t beaten far so he might close the gap a bit on the selection but I still can’t see him reversing the form.