1:15 Ffos Las
The first race on ITV is the Grade 2 Towton Novices Chase over an extended 2m3f.
You’d expect HANDSTANDS (6/4) NAP to take a bit of beating here. A really promising novice hurdler last season, he won his first three starts before being pitched into Grade 1 company at Cheltenham. He was disappointing there and he’s better than that. He was a faller on chase debut but certainly put that right when winning well at Grade 2 level at Sandown. You have to jump well to win around there so the fall didn’t dent his confidence. This is another Grade 2 and he can continue on his improvement and land this. The drop in trip is no concern as he has gears.
1:45 Fairyhouse
Next up is Fairyhouse, a trappy handicap chase over 2m1f.
The one for me is THE KING OF PRS (13/2). A good second in a similar handicap on seasonal return, he backed that up with a fine third over Christmas at Leopardstown. He was beaten half length and his turn looks near to me. He’s effectively 5lb lower today with jockey Conor Stone-Walsh’s 5lb claim taken into consideration and this 7 year-olds turn looks near.
2:00 Newcastle
The 2:00 is the turn of the AW. It is a handicap over 1m2f with 8 runners set to go to post.
I like LERWICK (9/2) here. Well fancied on seasonal debut here at Newcastle, he just faded in the last furlong to be beaten 2L after attempting to make all. I do believe he is a much better horse than his current mark of 80 and I’m hoping the addition of a first-time hood here can help display that. Hopefully, the hood will help him settle a little better and if that is the case, he’s the one they have to beat.
2.40 Chelmsford
The first of two live races from Chelmsford is a mile handicap.
I like EAGLE DAY (11/2) in this who arguably comes into this race in career-best form. He showed a willing attitude to win well at Wolverhampton last time out and that made it four wins in total across 2024. He’s a previous course and distance winner here at Chelmsford which I like and he’ll sit handy from stall 1 which is where you want to be on this track. He holds a solid chance in a trappy race.
2:58 Ffos Las
The 2:58 from Ffos Las is a 3m handicap hurdle.
I’ll give MADAKET (12/1) another chance here as his run last time out at Chepstow looked too bad to be true. He was well-backed that day too suggesting connections were expecting a much better run. Prior to that, he was a really eye-catching third behind the improving Woodie Flash at Newbury. He’s entitled to improve this season and with the Hobbs/White yard banging in the winners at the moment, I think he looks overpriced to bounce back to form.
3:15 Chelmsford
The final race on ITV is a 6f handicap.
It’s BLIND BEGGAR (11/2) NB from me who was unlucky not to win last time out at Wolves when trying to make all. It looked like he’d slipped them all in the home straight but he was just pipped off close to home to finish a good second. He returns to Chelmsford here which suits his style better and he’s a previous course winner. The Michael Appleby team appear to slowly be getting back to the form we expect and they can have an ITV winner here to start 2025.
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