14:17 Musselburgh

Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder

The Paul Nicholls trained AFADIL (best priced at 10/3) has a fantastic record at this meeting and he can hopefully bounce back from some below par efforts so far this season. The six-year-old won the Scottish Triumph Hurdle here in 2023 before winning this race last year off a mark of 124 when sent off a well backed 100/30 favourite. He went on to finish placed at Aintree off a mark of 130 before finishing 4th beaten only 1 ¼ lengths in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr off the same mark.

Following four disappointing runs so far this season, Afadil has dropped down to a mark of 120 which means he is extremely well handicapped and he should prove hard to beat with regular rider Freddie Gingell back on board.

15:07 Sandown

The conditions at Sandown are set to be extremely testing and that should play into the strengths of HENRI THE SECOND (best priced at 5/2) who was an impressive winner over this course and distance last time. The Paul Nicholls trained eight-year-old beat the now 145 rated chaser Henry’s Friend in a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle here in 2022 and once again showed his liking for the track when bolting up by 18 lengths on heavy ground here in December off a mark of 125.

The handicapper has raised Henri The Second 8lbs for that success which is fair and he looks sure to be staying on strongly at the finish.

18:55 Newcastle

This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap but a chance is taken on BARNABY (best priced at 13/2) with Tom Eaves now back on board. The Kevin Ryan trained four-year-old won his first three starts on the AW under Tom Eaves off marks of 53, 58 and 64 before winning a fourth under Harry Burns off a mark of 70. He could only finish 3rd under a 3lb claimer here in December before disappointing at Southwell on his next start in a Class 4 handicap.

Barnaby was only beaten 2 ¾ lengths when 5th here last time under a 7lb claimer but with Tom Eaves now back on board and off a mark of 72 in a Class 5 handicap, he looks sure to be involved in the finish from Stall 9.