13:10 Wetherby

Leg 1 Selections: Piaff Bubbles, Algesiras

PIAFF BUBBLES shaped quite well when fifth at Carlisle earlier this month and should appreciate the step up in distance. He makes some appeal on handicap debut in this. ALGESIRAS ran a fine race when third last time and is another to be making his handicap debut off a nice mark. He could get competitive in what is a wide-open opener. 
 

13:45 Wetherby

Leg 2 Selections: Gelino Bello, Press Your Luck

GELINO BELLO ended last season with a Grade 1 success in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, winning in good style, and while the second has let the form down since, this six-year-old could be destined for great things over the larger obstacles. He has yet to finish out of the frame in all career starts and should prove hard to beat on his chase debut here. PRESS YOUR LUCK, who impressed on chase debut at Chepstow, is the obvious threat. However, giving ten pounds to Paul Nicholls’ charge might be difficult, especially as the latter was better over hurdles. 

14:20 Wetherby

Leg 3 Selections: Osprey Call 

OSPREY CALL has a big chance here. Alastair Ralph’s seven-year-old ran a solid race on his final start last season when seventh in a highly-competitive handicap at Haydock despite being sent off second-favourite and went close on his previous start at Stratford off only a four pounds lower mark. His win at Warwick was decent and he goes well fresh too as he probably would have won on his reappearance last year at Newbury without falling at the third last hurdle when going well. Harry Cobden is an interesting addition to the saddle and with lots going for his mount, he seems sure to be thereabouts.

14:55 Wetherby

Leg 4 Selections: Vintage Valley 

None of the quartet can be ruled out but VINTAGE VALLEY took a major step forward from his hurdles debut to return a convincing winner over C&D last time and should have more to come now upped in grade. He really enjoyed himself at this course last time, where his jumping was electric and he beat an odds-on favourite with his head in his chest by seventeen lengths. This is a much stiffer examination but Donald McCain clearly feels as though he’s up to the level and he could get a soft lead with no other front-runner in the field.

15:30 Wetherby

Leg 5 Selections: Nuts Well 

NUTS WELL hasn’t been at his best the last three times but he’s still the class act in the field and his victory at Kelso in a Listed event in March is a strong piece of form in the context of this race. He has an excellent record at this venue over fences, which reads form figures of 24113, and should strip a lot fitter from his return from a six months break earlier this month. It won’t be easy defying top-weight but he’s capable of winning this if he’s able to get back to his best. 

15:30 Wetherby

Leg 6 Selections: Chandlers Bay, Solomoon

This is a difficult race to assess. However, CHANDLERS BAY is related to several winners and is sure to be well schooled ahead of his hurdles debut. SOLOMOON is seemingly the stables main hope based on jockey bookings and could pose a threat in this wide-open event.