16:10 Exeter

I’m keen to side with BALLYBLACK (best price 11/4) making the breakthrough here following a promising effort on debut over hurdles at Taunton. He went down just a length and a half on that occasion and the front pair pulled some 18 lengths clear from the rest. The winner had experience on side and is a nice prospect himself for Paul Nicholls. The selection is sure to come on from that initial effort and this looks a good opportunity for him to go one better. The way he shaped suggests this longer trip will play to his strengths and I’m struggling to see why he isn’t favourite. Chavez also made an encouraging start when runner-up on debut over hurdles but the horse that beat him Nothin To Ask has been turned over since so the form has been let down a touch.
 

20:30 Kempton

With 2 wins from his last 3 PRINCE ABU (best price 9/4) looks a decent play at Kempton on Wednesday night. He relished the step up in trip to beat a solid yardstick in Metal Man at Southwell last month and turned out quickly under a penalty should have more to offer yet. He has to prove himself on polytrack but I see no reason why he won’t take to it and he looks much better value than main market rival Smith. The latter has won his last 3 now but I’m not sure he beat much last time and he only just did enough. This Ones For Fred could go better than his odds are suggesting if he gets a decent pace to aim at and it wouldn’t massively surprise me if he was the one to finish second to the selection. The rest all have enough to prove on the balance.