Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action.
12:40 Naas
This looks a really competitive Grade 3 Novice Chase which will have implications going forward for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Preference goes to the Willie Mullins trained Stattler (best priced at 9/4) who was amongst the top staying novice hurdlers last season and made a perfect chasing debut on his reappearance at Fairyhouse.
The seven-year-old jumped superbly that day and eased clear of stablemate Fighter Allen to win by a widening six lengths at the finish. He showed lots of pace that day but I would have no concern about his stamina over 3m1f and he should be able to win this before heading to the Cheltenham Festival in March.
13:00 Sedgefield
The Rebecca Menzies trained Road Warrior (best priced at 15/8) has a good record at Sedgefield and should hold strong claims of going one better than over this course and distance last time. The eight-year-old has form figures of P26211312 at the course with his only disappointing effort coming over a trip too far. His most recent victory on his penultimate start came off a mark of 117 when he stayed on well to win by 4 ½ lengths under 10lb claimer Peter Coleman on Boxing Day.
The handicapper raised Road Warrior 4lbs for that effort up to a mark of 121 where he ran well to finish 2nd behind the well handicapped The King Of May. The handicapper has left him unchanged on that mark but connections now put Peter Coleman back on to claim 10lbs which looks a positive. He drops down in class into a 0-120 handicap and should prove hard to beat.
15:00 Sedgefield
A 7lb rise for his latest course and distance success means that Dalkingstown (best priced at EVENS) forces two out of his four remaining rivals out of the handicap for this race. With both Supreme Steel (5lbs) and Farlam King (12lbs) out of the weights this looks a perfect opportunity for Dalkingstown to follow up here.
The eight-year-old won easily by 8 ½ lengths last time but still looks well handicapped on his previous form off a mark of 105 having been rated as high as 113 last season. He faces two rivals who both finished 4th when beaten favourites last time and I think they will struggle to upset the favourite.
