13:00 Doncaster

The Gillian Boanas trained BESTIARIUS (best priced at 4-1) has been running consistently well this season with form figures of 3243 and I am hoping that the application of first time cheekpieces means that he can get off the mark over hurdles in this race. The ten-year-old was only beaten a length when 3rd at Kelso 25 days ago under Brian Hughes when inconvenienced by them having to omit the last hurdle.

That run came off a mark of 97 and the gelding now runs off the same mark in this race and gets the assistance of top conditional Tom Midgley. The Steward is respected having won at Musselburgh last time but I prefer the chances of Bestiarius.

Bestiarius - 1pt @ 4/1

15:45 Huntingdon

THUNDER ROCK (best priced at EVS) won an Exeter bumper on his final start last season and has looked a good prospect over hurdles so far this season. The Olly Murphy trained six-year-old finished 2nd behind Might I at Newton Abbot in October before getting off the mark over hurdles at Wetherby in November. The second that day Cobblers Dream has won his next two starts including the Lanzarote Hurdle and is now rated 136 which makes Thunder Rock look extremely well handicapped off a mark of 123.

Thunder Rock won easily at Musselburgh at 1/5 under a penalty in December and makes his handicap debut here following a 66 day break. He is the least exposed in the field and should prove hard to beat off this opening mark.

Thunder Rock - 1pt @ 1/1