12:00 Stratford

Leg 1 Selections: Hillview, Ennistown

HILLVIEW just keeps on winning and has now won five of his last seven starts. He found further improvement to knuckle down well and score from out of the handicap last time. He is back up four pounds, but scored very easily over course-and-distance back in April and is the one to beat. ENNISTOWN is the oldest at the party but ran respectably when second over track and trip last time and is thirty one pounds lower than when last successful in this sphere. I think he can serve it up to the favourite. 

12:30 Stratford

Leg 2 Selections: Cawthorne Lad

This race features two last-time-out winners, but the Jonjo O’Neill-trained CAWTHORNE LAD shaped nicely when third in Warwick handicap hurdle when last seen in March and that should have done his confidence the world of good on return to fences. He battered his rivals at this course on chase debut and, with improvement on the way, the top-weight should emerge as a serious contender for top honours.

13:00 Stratford

Leg 3 Selections: Serjeant Painter, Cremant

SERJEANT PAINTER has been in terrific form since he was switched to this sphere, in which he’s won back-to-back events since his third at Worcester. Ben Pauling’s charge steps up in grade for this race, which is harder, but he should go well here. CREMANT shaped well when third on chase debut here last time and won off a three pounds higher mark over hurdles on his only other previous visit to the venue. He’s a massive player with more to offer. 

13:30 Stratford

Leg 4 Selections: Mick Pastor

Paul Nicholls’ MICK PASTOR has to give loads of weight to his rivals but he’s the class act in the field and is rated eighteen pounds clear of all of these. He won his first four starts over fences and while he was well beaten in a class two last-time-out, this is easier and he looks nicely treated off a mark of 140 with Lorcan Williams in the saddle. If he can put in a polished round of jumping after three months off, he should outclass these. 

13:59 Stratford

Leg 5 Selections: Rafiki, Sophosc

Alan King’s RAFIKI made a winning start over hurdles over track and trip a month ago and he should go close with more to come. SOPHOSC won with more in hand than the winning margin suggested on hurdles debut and given how well Ian Williams’ charge has consistently done on the Flat, the top-weight should make a bold bid to remain unbeaten in this sphere. 

14:30 Stratford

Leg 6 Selections: Rebel Roxy

This is really wide-open but REBEL ROXY showed ability in bumpers/over hurdles during the second half of last year and will make her handicap debut off what appears to be a lenient-looking mark on her return. Nick Slatter takes off a valuable five pounds and, dropped in class ahead of this assignment, she’s entitled to be thereabouts for her in-form handler.