14:15 Ludlow

I’d go as far to say as this is one of my strongest Notebooks of the entire month. DUBLIN FOUR (best price 9-4) defied a 200-day absence to make a winning return over fences at Newbury and had the field well strung out in behind. He is up 5lb for that but has potential to keep progressing now and I think connections have found a suitable opportunity for him to follow up. He is very much unexposed over staying trips and I can see him relishing 3 miles in time. He is likely to be ridden patiently again and given how well he jumped the last day he should get a nice toe in before picking them off late. As you know The Newest One is a horse I like as well and it was good to see him put that Warwick second right at Doncaster last month. He is a bit unlucky not to be coming here chasing a four-timer so looks the danger but he doesn’t have much scope and is up another 3lb so will need to find more.

16:30 Southwell

Aljaryaal let supporters down badly at Wolverhampton last time but is likely to be popular here back down in trip. He is a keen going sort though and I don’t think he is straightforward so I’m going to oppose with MEADOW SPRITE (best price 5-2). The latter has won 2 of her last 3 now and looked better than ever on first try over this trip holding on gamely from a decent yardstick in Torbellino. That looks a strong piece of form for the grade and up just 3lb I don’t see how she doesn’t go close. If Aljaryaal does blow out then Scarborough Castle looks the obvious danger for David Simcock. This horse looked to be progressing well before only managing fourth at Kempton. I do think he is better than that and if things fall his way here he may well be the one to give the selection most to think about. Smokey Malone is capable but doesn’t always put it all in so might be worth backing for a place.