Following a 10/3 & 11/4 winner, Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action.
13:20 Sedgefield
The Rose Dobbin trained CAILIN DEARG (best priced at 11-4) finished well beaten in novice hurdles last season but has taken advantage of a low handicap mark so far this season. The seven-year-old finished 5th on her reappearance before winning twice over this course and distance off marks of 88 and 94. The mare won by two lengths in early December before following up by four lengths over this course and distance again on Boxing Day off a mark of 94.
The handicapper has raised Cailin Dearg 8lbs for that victory but that seems fair and she is expected to win this 0-100 handicap off top weight before having to go up in grade.
14:00 Huntingdon
All four runners are in with a chance in this 0-135 novices’ handicap chase but preference goes to the Sam Thomas trained OUR POWER (best priced at 9-4) who can bounce back having fallen at the first last time. The seven-year-old ended last season with two pulled up efforts when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies but he has looked to benefit from a change of yards this season.
Our Power finished 5th on his reappearance at Kempton before defeating the Milton Harris trained Jacamar at Wincanton who went on to win on Boxing Day and is now rated 5lbs higher. The pair pulled 13 lengths clear of the third so it looked a good performance and he can be excused a novicey fall last time at Doncaster on Tuesday. He clearly has no ill effects from that fall to be running so soon after and I expect him to prove hard to beat off top weight.
17:30 Wolverhampton
The Charlie Fellowes trained SAN FRANCISCO BAY (best priced at 9-2) showed very little in novice/maiden races but finished first past the post on his handicap debut over this course and distance in August off an opening handicap mark of 65. The son of Muhaarar showed his inexperience that day by hanging right and causing interference with the runner-up Oh Great who was awarded the race in the Steward’s Room afterwards.
The pair pulled 3 ¼ lengths clear of the third Vaxholm and that rival has since boosted that form by winning three times and is now rated 15lbs higher. San Francisco Bay returns here following a 154 day break off a 4lb higher mark and I expect him to prove hard to beat with Jamie Spencer taking over for the first time.
