12:40 Punchestown

With Polo Lounge out only 4 horses head to post for this Novice Hurdle which is slightly disappointing but I am looking forward to seeing ITSWHATUNITESUS out again. This Walk In The Park gelding first caught the eye finishing second on hurdles debut at Galway back in October. That experience wasn’t lost on him as he improved to win with a bit to spare at Cork last month. He beat a well regarded sort in Embassy Gardens that day and looked a horse improving with each run. He obviously has more to offer and should be up to winning again here. Coastal Path gelding Invictus Machin was fairly impressive on debut over hurdles at Down Royal and shouldn’t be dismissed easily. I think he’ll do better up in trip though so might just lack a gear when asked here. Carnfunnock won as expected at Ayr but will need to raise his game again here.

14:20 Kempton

The money has been relentless overnight for ZEALOT and when it is for these owners and this trainer it is often worth sitting up and taking notice. This horse used to be trained by Eve Johnson Houghton and impressed winning over C&D back in September. He was very much back to form over this trip at Southwell last week missing by just a nose and compensation may well await here. He is obviously unexposed and back at this track I think it is fairly obvious another big run beckons. He could still be very well handicapped off his current mark of just 59. Rooful is a likeable filly who has won her last two at this track but she needs to reproduce that back up to a mile. I still think she is probably the danger to the favourite. Ower Starlight deserved to win at Lingfield last time and he might be a decent bet to hit the frame if in similar form this afternoon.