12:45 Lingfield

This 0-75 handicap has some interesting handicap debutants and the one I think could be open to the most amount of improvement is NOVATION (best priced at 5/1) who returns from 210 days off the track. The George Boughey trained three-year-old was sent off 5/2, 11/8 and 5/2 for his three starts last season where he finished 4th, 4th and 3rd.

All three of those runs came on turf over 5f and Novation now steps up in trip to 7f having been gelded following his last run in June. The handicapper has given him am opening mark of 72 which seems fair and an improved effort is expected with Billy Loughnane taking over on board for the first time.

15:28 Hereford

Following a couple of notable non-runners in this race, HILL OF TARA (best priced at 11/8) looks like he will prove hard to beat. The Venetia Williams trained seven-year-old has shown improved form since switching to handicaps this season with form figures of 1121 including victories at Ffos Las, Leicester and Haydock.

Hill Of Tara won easily by 3 ¾ lengths at Haydock last time under Ned Fox in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle off a mark of 92 and he gets to run here off the same mark in this race. The handicapper has raised him 7lbs for that victory up to a mark of 97 but he instead runs without a penalty so he is 7lbs “well in” at the weights. If the quick turnaround doesn’t catch him out then he should prove hard to beat in this race for a yard still operating at a 25% strike rate.

Hill Of Tara - 1pt

19:10 Newcastle

Many of the horses in this 0-63 handicap are struggling for recent form but that isn’t the case for SYDNEY BAY (best priced at 9/2) who has form figures of 112 over this course and distance since joining Geoffrey Harker in October. The five-year-old won off marks of 49 and 51 before finishing 2nd by ¾ length off a mark of 56 on his penultimate start.

Sydney Bay disappointed at Southwell last time when beaten off a mark of 57 but this return to Newcastle should suit him well. Sam James, who rode him on his three earlier starts, is back on board and he looks sure to run well with four places on offer.