13:15 Friday

Jane Williams tends to bring her runners on steadily throughout the season; her strike-rate with runners on their third start of the season is 18%, compared to 11% when they’re having their first or second run of the season.

And with the forecast rain, now might be the time to catch FAST BUCK (11/1). He won on heavy ground at Lingfield in December last year, and followed that up with a good second over course and distance in a higher grade. 

He’s two pounds lower than that day, and drops back into a 0-125 for the first time since his Lingfield win. His last start was encouraging, and a return to positive tactics could see him outrun his odds here.

15:35 Friday

One of my horses to follow for the season (as put up on the Oddschecker Horses To Follow Podcast), IMMORTAL disappointed me on his handicap debut but I’m prepared to give him another chance.

He was too fresh in the early stages last time out, and in an attempt to settle him, Freddie Gordon reigned him back on the inside and was never able to peg back the front pair who were prominent throughout the race. The second, Ed Keeper, has won impressively since and I hope Immortal will improve for the run.

He’s run well at Sandown before, testing ground shouldn’t be a problem and it would be majorly disappointing if can’t prove up to winning from a lowly mark of 10.

15:35 Saturday

Venetia Williams boats an imperious 33% strike-rate with runners having their seasonal debut since October.

Step forward, FONTAINE COLLONGES, who showed she goes very well fresh last season when winning at Haydock. She beat The Big Breakaway on that occasion, who finished second in the Welsh National next time out, with reopposing Rapper 11-lengths back in third; Rapper won on his next start, and they meet here on the same terms as they were on at Haydock.

She’s on a winnable mark, loves testing conditions and should go close here.