Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action.
13:00 Plumpton
Prince Imperial finished 2nd on his hurdling debut last time but this looks to be between Hansard and MASTER CHEWY (best priced at 10/11) with preference going to the latter. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained six-year-old is rated 126 over hurdles following three good runs including when unlucky to fall at the last when three lengths clear at Ascot on his penultimate start.
Master Chewy finished 2nd last time Cheltenham when only 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner Attacca that day who was well fancied for the Challow Hurdle and the form has been boosted by the fourth Timeforatune winning at Taunton on his next start. Hansard won on his hurdling/stable debut last time but shoulders a 7lb penalty as a result and I expect Master Chewy to prove hard to beat.
14:23 Lingfield
Both Gasman and Haaland are respected on their handicap debuts but preference instead goes to THE PUG (best priced at 15/2) who runs here in first time cheekpieces. The Sylvester Kirk trained three-year-old showed very little on his first three starts but he showed a lot more last time on his handicap debut having been gelded following his final qualifying run.
The Pug finished only 3 ½ lengths behind the favourite Gilded Moon at Wolverhampton last time and is 3lbs better off at the weights with that rival. He was suited by the step up in trip last time and will hopefully now travel sweeter for Rob Hornby in first time cheekpieces now dropped in class from a 0-65 into a 0-60 handicap.
15:00 Plumpton
The handicapper has given the Neil King trained NEARLY PERFECT (best priced at 13/2) a good chance on his return following 711 days off the track and he looks worth taking a chance on in this race. The nine-year-old has form figures of 413114 over fences with two victories coming on soft ground in December 2020 off marks of 122 and 127.
Nearly Perfect finished 4th on his final start in January 2021 at Wincanton off a mark of 135 in the Somerset National and he runs here off a 6lb lower mark. He won off a 322 day break in December 2020 so we know he goes well fresh and he looks worth taking a chance on in this race.
