13:45, william hill handicap hurdle
Favour And Fortune 14/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
The opening race of day 2 is a proper fiendish punting affair. Olly Murphy's Indeevar Bleu didn't run at Cheltenham and comes here a fresh horse. He looked good when winning over course and distance on Boxing Day and looks a horse on the up. The only niggling worry is that he's shaped as though a softer surface sees him to best effect and he won't get that here. Hot Fuss has had a memorable campaign and arrives with form claims again although the season's exploits could begin to take there toll, as they could for the classy Joyeuse who also has stamina doubts to put to bed. Wellington Arch rates a fair each-way bet in search of landing this race again whilst Trustintimes is another who comes here fresh and with claims as an unexposed type. In a condensed race at the weights, it may be that top weight Favour And Fortune could take advantage of a light season having only raced the once, back in February. It's not been plain sailing for the 8 year old in his career but is a former Scottish Champion Hurdle winner who was placed in this last year off a pound lower mark. He's a whopping 13 pounds better off with Wellington Arch this time around and has shown that this trip on good ground is what he probably wants these days. This looks to have been a long range target.
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14:20, William Hill Mildmay Novices' Chase
Miami Magic 5/1, 2pts win
Not one of the classiest renewals of the Mildmay but an open one from a punting view. The race is dominated by those who ran well, without winning, at Cheltenham. Salver has had a productive season and ran a cracker to finish 3rd at the Festival. He never looked like winning that day though and he's hard a long season. Softer ground is also prefered. Gold Dancer and Regent's Stroll finished 2nd and 3rd in the Jack Richards and have claims here for all this is a marked step up in class and both have to convince at the trip. Wendigo also has a chance but may need a stiffer test than this will offer so preference is for Stuart Edmonds Miami Magic. Sent off 5/2 favourite for a Grade 1 over hurdles here last season, he got off to a poor start over fences in the Autumn before it all came together at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. He accounted for Regent's Stroll that day and although 5 pound worse off at the weights here, over the trip he's expected to confirm the form. He bolted up over this trip at Newbury in February and arrives here fresher than most. The son of Leading Light enjoys a flat track and a decent surface and can take advantage of a substandard field to take out his first Grade 1.
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14:55, ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices' Hurdle
Sober Glory 8/13, 2.6pts win
Another Grade 1 that has drawn perhaps a weaker than expected field. It all revolves around Supreme 2nd Sober Glory. A winning machine throughout most of his career to date, he bounced back from a blip at Sandown to bolt up at Newbury before running a mighty race from the front at Cheltenham. He was beaten by the best novice hurdler around that day and on all known form he should make ammends here. Baron Noir could get closer in a more compact race but has work to do to turn around Festival form whilst La Conquiere didn't give her running in the Dawn Run and could run well at bigger odds in a less competitive affair here.
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15:30, JCB Melling Chase
Gidleigh Park 9/2, 2pts win
A classy renewal of the Melling Chase although a shame that Jonbon is an absentee. Ryanair winner Heart Wood deserves to take top billing here after routing the opposition at Cheltenham and he has outstanding claims of completing a big spring double. He would have had a hard race that day despite the ease of his victory however and he has tasted defeat at this meeting before. Grey Dawning drops in trip here after running well in the Gold Cup without seeing it out and has strong claims in first time cheekpieces. That run could leave a mark however and may need a softer surface to be seen to best effect. It could pay to side with one who sidestepped Cheltenham here. Harry Fry's Gidleigh Park split Impare Et Passe and Jango Baie here 12 months ago and although it hasn't gone to plan since, he has always looked to have a big one in the locker somewhere. A talented individual without doubt, he arrives here fresh and seems to have ideal conditions. The 8 year old son of Walk In The Park won't have any better chance of claiming a maiden Grade 1 victory.
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16:05, Randox Topham Handicap Chase
Madara 9/2, 2pts win
A big field Topham awaits us again and it's stacked with Irish challengers who all hold chances none more so than last year's winner Gentleman De Mee who must go well again at the weights. Stablemate Ile Atlantique has always looked like a graded horse and will be a threat to all if this test revitalises him whilst Il Est Francais could blow these all out of the water if on a going day. Those are few and far between these days however. Prarie Wolf keeps defying the handicapper and his racing style is adaptable and could keep progressing here and Boombawn can't be written off given his past exploits. The latter's stablemate Madara could continue to make a mockery of the handicapper however. It's fair to say the 7 year old was one of the easiest winners of the week at Cheltenham and still hasn't had a hard season. He's been clobbered 10 pounds for winning the Plate there but could still have more to come and connections are already taking about graded aspirations. In an open race, it could be that it's the obvious staring us in the face yet again and from the Skelton stable once more.
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16:40, Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle
No Drama This End 10/3, 3pts win
A very open edition of the Sefton with any number holding strong chances. Albert Bartlett winner Johnny's Jury could still be improving and holds a chance for all that was a hard race he had that day. Mondou'boy has claims of reversing form from that race if given a more restrained ride and Kripticjim could also get closer now on a flatter track. Zeus Power finished 3rd in the Turners and has a chance if seeing this trip out and Dalston Lad is unexposed and fresh from missing the Festival. No Drama This End was one of the big talking horses heading into the Spring but nothing went his way in the Turners and finished with questions to answer. He was looked after that day though and now steps up in trip taking on opponents who had very tough races the last day. He's already a Grade 1 winner who still looks to have the world at his feet and this trip shouldn't hold any fears. The 6 year old still rates the best horse in the race and can make amends here under his new rider.
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17:15, Debenhams Handicap Hurdle
Sherminator 13/2, 1.5pts each-way (5 places)
A thoroughly open affair to end the day. Wreckless Eric is still fairly weighted and he brings in the best recent form having finished 2nd in the Imperial Cup whilst Harry Lowes could be anything now he's getting his act together over hurdles. Patrick Mullins rides Sherminator here for Harry Fry though and that's an eye catching jockey booking. The 5 year old still looks to be on a fair mark in search of the hattrick and is unbeaten over hurdles when staying on all fours. He must hold a big chance up in class.
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