Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's action.
15:00 Hereford
The Tom Lacey trained ROCKY HILL (best priced at 3/1) put in a much improved effort over this course and distance on his handicap debut and he should hold strong claims of going one better off only a 2lb higher mark. The seven-year-old defied odds of 33/1 to make a winning debut in a bumper when trained by Ewan Whillans before disappointing on his three starts in maiden/novice hurdles last season.
Rocky Hill returned from 426 days off the track to finish 2nd beaten only a length here last time by the re-opposing Another Lord on his handicap debut off an opening mark of 85. Connections fitted him with first time cheekpieces that day which are retained and he should prove hard to beat off a mark of 87 following a break of a month.
15:30 Hereford
Jack Quinlan performed a miraculous recovery on JACK DOYEN (best priced at 3/1) last time over this course and distance and he should hold strong claims off a 5lb higher mark in this race. The Ben Case trained eight-year-old is prone to jumping mistakes as shown when falling at Leicester on his penultimate start but a repeat of his latest effort should be good enough to follow up in this 0-100 handicap.
The handicapper has raised Jack Doyen 5lbs for his 3 ¾ length victory last time which is fair and he should prove hard to beat with The Scorpion King looking the biggest danger.
19:00 Southwell
This looks a competitive 0-68 handicap but preference goes to SOAMES FORSYTE (best priced at 9/1) who has a consistent record over this course and distance. The Michael Herrington trained five-year-old dead heated here in December off a mark of 64 before following up at Wolverhampton on his next start off a mark of 66.
He then finished 3rd beaten only ½ length off a mark of 68 on his next start before finishing 2nd beaten only 1 ½ lengths by Cephalus on his penultimate start here over this course and distance. That rival has won twice since and is now rated 18lbs higher so the form has been boosted and the selection once again ran well last time when 4th beaten two lengths here 12 days ago.
Soames Forsyte runs here off a 1lb lower mark and he looks sure to run well once again with up to five places available.
