Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's action.
15:50 Newcastle
This looks a competitive 0-100 handicap hurdle but preference goes to CALL ME JACK (best priced at 4/1) who won on his handicap debut a fortnight ago. The Mark Walford trained five-year-old had shown very little form in bumpers and in his three runs over hurdles but he was well backed into 100/30 to win at Southwell on his handicap debut. He showed his inexperience during the contest racing keenly in the early stages before getting outpaced approaching the second last hurdle. He was still four lengths down jumping the last but stayed on strongly to win by ½ length at the finish.
The extra furlong in this race is a positive for Call Me Jack and he should prove hard to beat off only a 2lb higher mark.
16:02 Lingfield
Major Fortune is respected in his bid for a five-timer but a chance is taken on the course specialist MOVETHECHAINS (best priced at 7/1) on his return to hurdling. The Gary Moore trained ten-year-old has form figures of 1111213 at the track including a seven-length victory off a mark of 115 over fences in January.
Movethechains now reverts back to hurdles for the first time since December 2020 (only ran in three novice/maiden hurdles) off a mark of 112 which is 11lbs lower than his chase mark. He drops slightly in trip to 3 miles which should be fine and connections claim 7lbs off the top weight with Rob Hargreaves taking the ride. This drop in class should mean he runs well back over hurdles at a track he loves and he should run well.
18:00 Southwell
Assessment has been well backed on his stable debut for Archie Watson but he was pulled up on his previous start 285 days ago so preference goes to the solid LEAP DAY (best priced at 5/1). The Tim Easterby trained four-year-old has shown good form on the AW in his career with form figures of 3431422. He won a novice race over this course and distance in December before finishing a neck 2nd on his last two starts at Newcastle over 7f in cheekpieces.
The handicapper has raised Leap Day 3lbs for his latest effort which is fair as they pulled 3 lengths clear of the 3rd and this step back up in trip to a mile should suit. If the favourite underperforms then he looks sure to run well with up to four places available.
