13:15 Cheltenham

This looks a competitive 0-140 handicap hurdle but I am willing to take a chance on ANYHARMINASKING (best priced at 10/1) on his reappearance following the victory of Johnnywho yesterday. The Jonjo & A J O’Neill trained seven-year-old is infamous as being the horse to beat Constitution Hill in a PTP but it is his reappearance run last season that takes my eye.

Anyharminasking finished 2nd beaten only 1 ½ lengths by Nemean Lion in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his reappearance last season with the pair pulling 8 ½ lengths clear of the third and that rival is now rated 15lbs higher. That run came off a mark of 133 and he races here off only 1lb higher this year but he crucially is now fitted with first time cheekpieces in this race which should help him travel better throughout the contest. Bookmakers are offering up to five places and I would be disappointed if he isn’t involved in the finish.

16:01 Newbury

Miller Spirit is respected in his hat-trick bid but preference instead goes to ITHACA’S ARROW (best priced at 11/4) whose three runs since returning to the flat have been excellent. The Dominic French Davis trained four-year-old was a 3 ¼ length winner on soft ground at Chester before finishing 3rd behind Not So Sleepy in the Autumn Cup over 1m5½f on heavy ground here last time off a mark of 81.

Ithaca’s Arrow runs here off the same mark in this race and he should not only be well suited by this slight drop back in trip to 1m4f like on his penultimate start but he will once again relish these testing conditions. Silvestre De Sousa takes over on board which is a positive and he should prove hard to beat.

17:11 Newbury

William Buick has rarely given a horse a bad ride in recent seasons but he will want his time again on ELLADONNA (best priced at 8/1) from last time at Haydock. The James Fanshawe trained filly won twice at Nottingham and Salisbury when wearing a hood before failing in her hat-trick bid last time when strangely the hood was removed.

Elladonna was held up in rear by William Buick that day before going for a daring run against the rail where she didn’t get the clearest of runs before running on to finish 4th. Being a daughter of Belardo she should relish this first run on heavy ground and I expect her to get back on track in this race with up to four places available and the hood re-applied.