Dual Bumper winner Seven Nation Army (2.10) has finished runner up in his last three starts over timber but he met a decent sort at Sandown earlier in the month and he can get his head in front. Owner Roger Brookhouse appears to have fallen out with Paddy Brennan who has ridden the 6-y-old on his last four starts and Denis O’Regan takes over in the saddle in the opener at Newton Abbot.
There is an excellent handicap chase and I hope the forecast better ground will see Ballypatrick (3.10) return to form for Mick Channon. The selection is 8lbs lower than when third in last year’s Eider Chase when the 4m trip looked to stretch his stamina. He has been below his best so far this season but is entitled to come on for his latest Exeter run when returning from a 3-month break.
Ballyegan is chasing a hat-trick having scored twice earlier in the month at Taunton but all his career wins have been gained on right-handed tracks and he carries a 7lb penalty for his latest success. He must go close but preference is for top-weight Brody Bleu (4.10) who has been running consistently well of late and may have found the 3m at Kempton last time stretching his stamina.
At Lingfield Callac (3.30) sets no more than a fair standard in the 7f maiden but he has been well backed on both starts and trainer David Simcock looks to have found an excellent opportunity for his gelding to make it third time lucky although he is likely to need a mile sooner rather than later.
The Mark Johnston string have found their form in recent days with, at the time of writing, five winners in the last fortnight. One such winner was Watersmeet who looks a typical improver from the yard but he must give 11lbs to Thecornishcowboy (4.00) and the latter won this corresponding race two years ago from a 2lbs lower mark. Adam Kirby, who met trouble in running on the 6-y-o last time, keeps the mount and he will be hard to keep out of the frame.
Pearl Noir will make sure we get a truly run sprint over the minimum trip and a chance is taken on Boxing Shadows (4.30) who is refitted with a hood and reunited with David Allan. The selection is a dual winner at Wolverhampton and is beginning to look well treated for trainer Les Eyre who saddled a winner at Wolverhampton last week.
At Kempton this evening Moonfaarid (7.45) ran his best race yet when runner up at Lingfield last time having his first start for Jane Chapple-Hyam. That was his first start in over four months and he has been dropped 1lb for that effort. George Baker takes over in the saddle for the first time and the tissue price of 6/1 at BetVictor looks a fair each way price.
Proofreader (8.15) cost Neil Mullholland £11,000 at the Brightwell Sales back in November having been off the track since May 2013. The selection won a soft ground maiden on debut for John Gosden but the fact that this 6-y-o is having only his sixth career start shows he has had more than his fair share of training problems. He was not knocked about by Adam Kirby when third over a furlong shorter here last month and that kindness can be repaid in the finale although Kirby is replaced by George Baker on this occasion.
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