13:30 Fontwell

I’m surprised FABLE isn’t a bit shorter here following that promising win at Bangor last time. Visually I thought that was quite impressive the way she kept finding off the bridle to win readily and the clock backs that up too. The runner-up Effernock Fizz has won at Ludlow since to frank the form so there is good reason to think she can follow up here despite a 4lb rise. The ground will be more to her liking than the opposition too so it really wouldn’t surprise me to see her go off a shade of odds-on come post time. Grandads Cottage was an expensive recruit and he showed a good attitude to get up at Wetherby last time. That was in soft ground though and while he has won on a sounder surface I do think that ground is his preferred and things might just be happening too quickly here for him. Quinta Do Mar would also have to be feared with the cheekpieces applied.

14:50 Hereford

I know BLACKO has a bit to do on the clock but I liked the way he kept asserting to beat Extraordinary Man at Leicester last time and now he has his head in front over fences I’m expecting him to keep improving. I thought you could see him building in confidence as that race went on last time and if he gets into a good rhythm here then he might surprise a few. Le Ligerien likes to go forward so it will be interesting to see what tactics are applied but I don’t see him being far off it. The latter jumped well to make all at Plumpton but he does lack consistency and may struggle to reproduce that. I actually think Jobesgreen Lad could be a greater threat but has gone up 8lb for that Ludlow win and that leaves him off a career-high mark now so this will take a big performance to win. Abaya Du Mathan is 2lb out the weights and looks up against it.